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  • China is arming world's worst regimes

    China is arming world's worst regimes to fuel economic boom, says Amnesty
    By Clifford Coonan in Beijing
    Published: 12 June 2006

    China's secret arms exports to some of the world's worst trouble spots are fuelling human rights violations and helping to sustain conflicts in countries such as Sudan, Nepal and Burma, Amnesty International says.

    As well as big conventional weapons such as tanks warplanes, ballistic missiles, frigates and submarines, China sells small arms and security equipment to armies and police forces. Arms exports are estimated to be worth nearly £550m a year and often involve the exchange of weapons for raw materials, such as Sudanese oil, to fuel China's rapid economic growth.

    "China's arms exports policy is reckless and dangerous, paying no heed to human rights," said Amnesty International's UK director, Kate Allen.

    China is the only big arms exporting power that has not entered into any multilateral agreement setting out criteria, including respect for human rights, to guide arms export licensing decisions, Amnesty said in the report,China: Sustaining conflict and human rights abuses.

    "In a bid to continue economic expansion and grab a slice of the lucrative global weapons market, China has shipped arms into conflict zones and to countries that torture and repress their people," Ms Allen said.

    Since it entered the global arms market 20 years ago, China has supplied an arsenal of military, security and police equipment to countries with a record of human rights violations. It is increasing its reach and influence in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

    China insists its arms exports are lawful, despite growing international criticism, and says it has normal military trade with countries which abide by China's policies and agreements. China's resurgence is a "peaceful rise", says Beijing, citing Washington's nuclear co-operation with India, its role in arming Taiwan, and the strengthening of US-Japanese ties, as evidence of American double-standards.

    Amnesty slammed Beijing's continuing supply of military equipment to Sudan despite well-documented and widespread killings, rapes and abductions by government forces and its militia in Darfur.

    In Nepal, China has supplied small arms and light weapons to the armed forces, which have been responsible for much of the killings and torture, often of civilians. Guns seized from criminals in South Africa have also often been of Chinese origin. The report also points to possible involvement of Western firms in making some of the weapons.

    China's Assistant Foreign Minister, He Yafei, defended his country's role in Sudan last week before a visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to Egypt, Ghana, Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda beginning on Friday. "China's co-operation with Sudan, like its co-operation with other African countries, is normal and mutually beneficial. It delivers tenable benefits to the Sudanese people and facilitates Sudan's economic growth and its improvement of its human rights record," he said.

    Much attention has been focused in recent months on China's role in selling arms and technology usable in nuclear weapons to Iran, a long-time ally and trading partner.

    China has been linked to sales of high-quality uranium gas to Tehran for an enrichment programme which could eventually produce nuclear weapons.

    Amnesty said it is not just major weapons of mass destruction that are the problem and it is the weaponry on a smaller scale that is contributing to a worsening human rights situation.

    China's secret arms exports to some of the world's worst trouble spots are fuelling human rights violations and helping to sustain conflicts in countries such as Sudan, Nepal and Burma, Amnesty International says.

    As well as big conventional weapons such as tanks warplanes, ballistic missiles, frigates and submarines, China sells small arms and security equipment to armies and police forces. Arms exports are estimated to be worth nearly £550m a year and often involve the exchange of weapons for raw materials, such as Sudanese oil, to fuel China's rapid economic growth.

    "China's arms exports policy is reckless and dangerous, paying no heed to human rights," said Amnesty International's UK director, Kate Allen.

    China is the only big arms exporting power that has not entered into any multilateral agreement setting out criteria, including respect for human rights, to guide arms export licensing decisions, Amnesty said in the report,China: Sustaining conflict and human rights abuses.

    "In a bid to continue economic expansion and grab a slice of the lucrative global weapons market, China has shipped arms into conflict zones and to countries that torture and repress their people," Ms Allen said.

    Since it entered the global arms market 20 years ago, China has supplied an arsenal of military, security and police equipment to countries with a record of human rights violations. It is increasing its reach and influence in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

    China insists its arms exports are lawful, despite growing international criticism, and says it has normal military trade with countries which abide by China's policies and agreements. China's resurgence is a "peaceful rise", says Beijing, citing Washington's nuclear co-operation with India, its role in arming Taiwan, and the strengthening of US-Japanese ties, as evidence of American double-standards.

    Amnesty slammed Beijing's continuing supply of military equipment to Sudan despite well-documented and widespread killings, rapes and abductions by government forces and its militia in Darfur.

    In Nepal, China has supplied small arms and light weapons to the armed forces, which have been responsible for much of the killings and torture, often of civilians. Guns seized from criminals in South Africa have also often been of Chinese origin. The report also points to possible involvement of Western firms in making some of the weapons.

    China's Assistant Foreign Minister, He Yafei, defended his country's role in Sudan last week before a visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to Egypt, Ghana, Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda beginning on Friday. "China's co-operation with Sudan, like its co-operation with other African countries, is normal and mutually beneficial. It delivers tenable benefits to the Sudanese people and facilitates Sudan's economic growth and its improvement of its human rights record," he said.

    Much attention has been focused in recent months on China's role in selling arms and technology usable in nuclear weapons to Iran, a long-time ally and trading partner.

    China has been linked to sales of high-quality uranium gas to Tehran for an enrichment programme which could eventually produce nuclear weapons.

    Amnesty said it is not just major weapons of mass destruction that are the problem and it is the weaponry on a smaller scale that is contributing to a worsening human rights situation.
    source
    In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

    Leibniz

  • #2
    Well someone has to arm them... ;)
    To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

    Comment


    • #3
      That is not surprising, since China was the only one from the top 5 UNSC members to recognise and assist the Taliban nutcases.

      Cheers!...on the rocks!!

      Comment


      • #4
        Take away Pakistan and all you've got is a bunch of AK-47s, the weapon that has killed more people than nukes ever did.

        Comment


        • #5
          Burma and the Sudan.
          To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

          Comment


          • #6
            PRC’s weapon export is more then just Pakistan, every nations in ASEAN including Vietnam and most counties in Middle East receive weapon from PRC. Not defending PRC’s action in fact, I long argued in CDF that PRC should stop exporting small arms.

            Offically, the number one buyer of PRC arms is Thailand followed by Iran. again, that is offically, we don't know what is taking place under the table.
            Last edited by xinhui; 13 Jun 06,, 17:02.
            “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

            Comment


            • #7
              Gentlemen,

              I know the PRC's exports but my point being, it's not the big ticket items that is doing the harm. It's the AK-47. AI misses the boat in trying to paint the PRC as the bad guy here; not that the PRC is innocent but to broadstroke WMD, frigates, and aircraft in its suggestion that these are used in less than savoury ways is way off the mark.

              Comment


              • #8
                That's often the problem with AI. The leadership passes up facts in the cause of grandiose political statements
                In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

                Leibniz

                Comment


                • #9
                  PRC leader actually don't see there is anything wrong with it. AI had been very critical of PRC for years. I don't recall it actually made any different.









                  China provides aid to 53 African nations without political conditions: spokesman

                  PLA Daily 2006-06-16

                    

                    BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman of China's Ministry of Commerce said here Thursday that China has provided aid to 53 African countries over the past 50 years and the aid carried "no political conditions".

                    Spokesman Chong Quan told a press conference that China has helped African nations build nearly 800 complete sets of projects in the past five decades.

                    He made the remarks while introducing to the press economic and trade cooperative ties between China and seven African countries Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is scheduled to visit later this month.

                    Wen will embark on a week-long visit to Egypt, Ghana, the Republic of Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda from June 17 to 24.

                    Last year, Chong said, China's trade with the seven countries amounted to 21.13 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for half of the volume of China's African trade.

                    South Africa was China's biggest trade partner in Africa. Angola the second, the Republic of Congo the fifth, and Egypt the sixth.

                    In the first three months of this year, China's trade with the seven African nations totaled 6.56 billion dollars, up 168.2 percent from a year earlier.

                    Chong said Sino-African economic and trade ties have developed "fast and steadily" based on the principle of equality, mutual benefit and common development through various means.

                    In 2005, China and African bilateral trade came to 39.74 billion dollars, doubling that of 2000, with China's export to African countries standing at 18.68 billion dollars, and China's import from the African continent totaling 21 billion dollars.

                    According to Chong, in the January-March period of this year, China's trade with the African continent surged 52 percent year-on-year to 11.54 billion dollars.

                    He said China's accumulated direct investment in the African continent reached 1.18 billion dollars by the end of 2005, with China-invested projects scattering in 49 African countries.

                    He noted China has also helped African countries train thousands of various special technical personnel.

                    
                  “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    and train them too, PLA's African corp.

                    Africa students undergo military training in China, PLA does have an active foreign exchange program and NUD (National Defense University) trains students from over 40 nations every year including those from Pakistan and Bangladesh
                    Attached Files
                    “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      why not, everyone does it apart from those loony north europeans that won't sell anyhting to anyone non northern european.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        North European? How much north is North European? I realize that Eriye radars are from Sweden. France is also in the north, they gave submarines to Pakistan.

                        Ofcourse, based on "your" military knowledge if you mean Greenland or Arctic Ocean, unfortunately they dont sell military gear as of now.
                        A grain of wheat eclipsed the sun of Adam !!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          i meant sweden, finland etc...
                          they're very picky about who they sell too.....i mean like really picky.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Everyone is picky on who they sell their weapons to, except some.

                            Pakistan got Eriye and they even wanted Grippens. So complaining on Sweden does not have much ground
                            A grain of wheat eclipsed the sun of Adam !!

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Officer of Engineers
                              Gentlemen,

                              I know the PRC's exports but my point being, it's not the big ticket items that is doing the harm. It's the AK-47. AI misses the boat in trying to paint the PRC as the bad guy here; not that the PRC is innocent but to broadstroke WMD, frigates, and aircraft in its suggestion that these are used in less than savoury ways is way off the mark.

                              Chinese are contemplating in making Bangladesh Nuke capable. They(along with Americans) have heavily weaponised Pakistan and they(Chinese) also played a major role in its nuke program.
                              Last edited by gilgamesh; 15 Jul 06,, 08:49.

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