South Sudan Chief Negotiator Questions China’s Commitments

China should take a more proactive role to resolve the Sudan-South Sudan crisis, said South Sudan’s chief negotiator Pagan Amum on Tuesday, who criticised the Chinese government for being “too cautious” in balancing its diplomatic relations with both countries.

China should take a more proactive role to resolve the Sudan-South Sudan crisis, said South Sudan’s chief negotiator Pagan Amum on Tuesday, who criticised the Chinese government for being “too cautious” in balancing its diplomatic relations with both countries.

According to Reuters, China is the largest buyer of South Sudan’s oil – importing nearly 260,000 barrels a day last year – and recently pledged $8 billion in development funds to the country after a visit by South Sudanese President Salva Kiir last week.

At the same time, the Chinese government had long been a major supporter of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, after both governments developed close business ties when Sudan and South Sudan were still a united country.

Consequently upon Sudan-South Sudan’s separation, China has had to play a delicate balancing act with both countries in order not to anger one government in favour of the other.

But this should not stop China from using its diplomatic relations with both countries to find a solution to the present conflict, said Amum, who was speaking to London-based think-tank Chatam House.

“Honestly speaking, China has not succeeded. They appointed a special envoy who came very late and also who was very cautious,” Amum said.

[quote]”By trying to move away from Khartoum so as to get closer to South Sudan and trying not to get too close to South Sudan so as not to cause displeasure to Khartoum … neither Khartoum nor Juba will be happy with China,” he added.[/quote]

“We (South Sudan) would want to see China playing a more active role. Their role has not been very active. Maybe China also needs to catch up its foreign policy with its international position, having huge investments abroad,” according to Amum.

“They definitely need to be more proactive, especially in relation to Sudan and South Sudan,” he said.

Nevertheless, Amum believes that is one area that even the Chinese may not be able to intervene – the construction of a new oil pipeline from South Sudan, which would bypass Sudan and go through Kenya instead.

Related: Oil Negotiations Break Down Between Sudan & South Sudan

Related: South Sudan: From Nationhood to Statehood

Last month, Amum’s government shut down their production of crude oil, after what they claim was illegal seizures of oil from its present pipelines from the Sudanese government. Sudan though insists that they seized the oil to make up for unpaid fees.

[quote]”As long as this is the mindset in Khartoum, the easiest way to export our oil is through an alternative pipeline,” said Amum. “It is clear to the Chinese as well.”[/quote]