African think tanks expressed a high opinion of China's role in helping build African peace and security at the first meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum.
African think tanks expressed a high opinion of China's role in helping build African peace and security at the first meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum. The meeting was held in October in Hangzhou and Jinhua in east China's Zhejiang Province as an unofficial dialogue between Chinese and African scholars.
Africa has a vast area, a big market and rich resources. Its strategic position cannot be overstated. But long-term colonization and domestic unrest have hindered progress in the economic development of most African countries.
In recent years, Africa has seen a decrease in regional wars and armed conflicts, along with improved security. But ethnic conflicts, racial barriers and border disputes still remain and cannot be solved in the short term. Since the beginning of this year, a number of North African countries, including Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, have experienced drastic political and social turmoil.
Peace and security are the prerequisites for economic and social development. It is hard to imagine how a region mired in war or unrest can carry on its economic and social development.
In addition to Africa's own efforts, external support is crucial to achieving lasting peace in the region. Given the significant position of Africa in the world political arena, many political forces have participated in its peace and security building. These forces include sovereign states, international organizations such as the UN, regional organizations such as the African Union (AU), UN specialized agencies such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross and international NGOs such as Oxfam International and Save the Children. Among them, China has played a remarkable role.
In recent years, China has participated in peacekeeping, anti-piracy operations, the prevention of arms proliferation and post-war reconstruction in Africa to support the region's peace and security efforts.
To date, it has participated in 15 UN peacekeeping missions in Africa. Currently, more than 1,000 Chinese peacekeepers are working in eight UN peacekeeping missions across the continent. Moreover, a number of Chinese professionals are on civilian missions there.
Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has sent the largest number of peacekeepers to UN peacekeeping operations. Well-trained, disciplined and diligent, Chinese peacekeepers have won the approval of the international community, especially host countries.
By participating in peacekeeping operations in Africa, China's image as a peace-loving and responsible power has been further enhanced, and the traditional friendship between Chinese and African people has been consolidated.
China has supported the peacekeeping operations carried out by Africa's regional and sub-regional organizations in accordance with the UN Charter and their own basic documents. In August 2009, China offered 5 million yuan ($788,500) in logistics assistance to Uganda and Burundi, two major troop contributors to the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia. Also, China offered a $400,000 check to the mission. China's financial and material assistance has promoted peace processes in Africa and improved Africa's own peacekeeping capacity.
Compared with other international organizations, regional organizations in Africa have an outstanding advantage in resolving regional conflicts and maintaining security, because African countries share similar historical, cultural and religious backgrounds. They have a deeper understanding about the causes of the conflicts, and thus have a better chance to come up with solutions. It is essential to bring the role of these organizations into full play.
Along with changes in the international situation, China has expanded its participation in UN peace and security building activities in Africa. For instance, it has sent naval fleets to join the multinational military operations against Somali pirates in keeping with UN Security Council resolutions.
China has been a victim of piracy for a long time. Main purposes of the Chinese escort fleets are to protect Chinese ships passing through the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia's coast, ensure the safety of the ships of the World Food Program and other international organizations that carry humanitarian supplies, and try to provide security cover for foreign ships as much as possible. To date, the Chinese Navy has sent 10 fleets to escort missions. While continuing to participate in operations against piracy, China will support the efforts of the international community in establishing special courts to try pirates.
Moreover, China has expressed a clear objection to interference in African countries' internal affairs through international criminal justice agencies. China supports African countries, politically and legally, to resist external interference based on international law.
The fact that all the cases and situations on the International Criminal Court's current agenda involve African countries has raised doubts about the legitimacy of its jurisdiction. Also, the court's issuing of arrest warrants for incumbent African heads of state or government goes against the diplomatic privileges and immunities granted by international law. The practice will produce a lasting negative impact on peace and reconciliation in Africa.
China's position is that a criminal justice system with African features should be established to deal with problems in Africa. To be specific, China calls for the establishment of a regional criminal justice system in Africa, while encouraging African countries to rely on existing domestic judicial mechanisms to punish crimes and make the most of community judicial institutions such as Gacaca courts.
In addition to taking part in international peacekeeping operations in Africa, China supports African countries' efforts to accelerate post-conflict reconciliation. China has helped war-torn African countries restore order, organize elections, reestablish judicial institutions, rebuild military and police forces and reconstruct infrastructure. It also sent Chinese experts to guide African countries' agricultural production and medical teams to provide medical services to Africans.
Behind each war there are complex economic, political, ethnic, religious and cultural roots. Among these factors, the economic factor serves as the major cause of war.
For a long time, African countries have suffered severe economic imbalances, both domestically and among different countries. The minerals of some countries, including diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, nickel and molybdenum, have long been controlled by warlords. They often use resource revenues to fund civil wars. Some of them even collude with neighboring countries against their own countries for personal and group interests.
If economic problems are not solved and the lives of ordinary citizens are not improved, external help cannot lead African countries to peace and security. Peace treaties may temporarily solve conflicts, but without economic development, they will reoccur after a period of time.
Thus, to realize lasting peace in Africa, it is essential to help African countries develop economically. In this regard, China has made great efforts. After the civil war in Angola ended in 2002, China took an active part in the country's reconstruction. For instance, the Export-Import Bank of China extended large loans to Angola. A number of Chinese enterprises, including the China Civil Engineering Construction Corp., the China Railway Construction Group, and the CITIC Group, a top Chinese financial conglomerate, joined the reconstruction process. China has also carried out similar economic assistance projects in other African countries, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The author is director of the Institute of International Humanitarian Law at the Zhejiang Sci-Tech University