Global Chinese unit, BBC World Service
Chinese efforts to build huge business interests throughout Africa have followed the careful policy of maintaining neutrality – but the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has caused a shift in its approach.
Rwanda is widely accused of accelerating the fighting in the minerals rich in the region, and Beijing, who has close relations with Dr. Congo and Ruand, has joined criticism in recent weeks.
However, he tries to walk with a diplomatic wire to maintain good relations with both countries, while continuing to do his business – and buy key minerals.
How is China a response to this conflict?
For decades, China was careful not to take over conflicts in Africa, so as not to create problems that could interfere with his extensive commercial interests.
So far, it has been a criticizing of the African governments for supporting participants in the conflict.
For example, China said a little about a series of state strikes since 2020 in the Sahel region in West Africa, except that he invited the leaders to consider people’s interests.
Beijing has long continued the policy of uniform in the internal affairs of another state, says Prof. Zhou Yuyuan, who specializes in African development and security at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIS).
Therefore, it avoids proposing conflict solutions, in addition to calling for diplomatic or political efforts of international organizations such as UN or African Union.
The unrest involving the rebels of the M23 East Dr. Congo raised their heads again in 2021. The wrinkles run ethnical Tutsis who say they have taken weapons to protect the rights of minority groups – and because the Congolec authorities have renewed themselves on the earlier peace agreement.
In her early comments on these movements, China limited herself to the critique of unnamed “foreign forces” to support M23 fighters.
But in the last few weeks she has been breaking from her usual practice and headed to Rwanda by name.
This follows the great gains of the M23, which since January has caught the key cities of Gom and Bukava.
“China repeats its hope that Rwanda will stop his military support from the M23 and immediately withdraw all his military forces from the Territory of Drc,” said the Chinese Ambassador UN in February.
Profa Zhou notes that, although significant, “the formulation is generally still relatively mild.”
“China hoped ‘that Rwanda would stop support, but he didn’t condemn her,” he says.
However, shortly thereafter, China supported the resolution of the UN Security Council, which sharply invokes Rwanda defense forces to “stop support from the M23 and immediately withdraw from the Territory Drc without prerequisite.”
Why did China make this shift?
According to Prof. Zhou, Chinese statements are likely to encourage UN experts, who provided strong evidence of the support of Rwanda M23.
“This is the basic consensus at the UN Security Council,” he added.
“The problem happens long enough, and everyone in their hearts knows the basic situation. No need to be more.”
Neither the Chinese mission at the UN or her Embassy in London answered the question of why China criticized Ruan.
But the critical importance for the cinema of the famous mineral wealth of Dr. Congo may have been a factor.
Fighting in Eastern Dr. Congo are concentrated in the provinces of northern Kivu and southern Kivu, in the house of many gold mines in Chinese.
As these mines have influenced the fighting so far, it is unclear.
The M23 also seized a territory containing Coltan Ora mines, which China imports in large quantities.
The metal tantalum, used in cars and daily electronics from TV sets to mobile phones, is pulled out of this ore, and the DR Congo is a source of 40% of the world supply.
The UN expert group said in December 2024 that M23 smuggled Coltan in Rwanda from Dr. Kong. She also noted that the export of Coltan Rwanda increased by 50% between 2022 and 2023.
Although Rwanda has its own Coltan mines, analysts say they could explain such a great increase in production.
It is not yet clear whether it has influenced the amount or price of the Koltan that China has introduced.
The second mineral that China imports from the DR Congo is cobalt, which is crucial for the lithium battery industry.
However, the Chinese Operations of the Mining of Kobalt are primarily based in southern DR Congo, far from the conflicting zones in the east.
Dozens of Chinese companies, many of which are state -owned, also build roads, telecommunications and hydroelectric power plants in Dr. Congo. However, the impact on these activities seems to be minimal so far.
Does China provide military support to Rwanda or DR Congo?
Chinese supplies weapons both Rwanda et al. Congo.
In the last two decades, the Rwanda Army has bought Chinese armored vehicles, artillery and anti -tank rockets, according to the Institute for International Peace Research (SIPRA).
China was first published by military atmos in the country in 2024.
Although UN experts say that the Rwanda Army armed the M23, it is unclear whether the rebel group of any Chinese weapon is used.
Congonic armed forces bought Chinese armored staff and drones.
They also own Chinese tanks, which were purchased in 1976, but were still used as early as 2022.
The drones are said to be used in the fight against M23.
Were the relationships of China with any country affected?
Rwanda Embassy in Beijing said that ties with China were “excellent and productive”, and it was not that Rwanda commented on the Chinese Statement of Fighting in Eastern Dr. Cong.
The Chinese Ambassador Dr. Kong, Zhao Bin, held discussions with Senate President Congoa Sam Lukonde in early February, but no details of the meeting were published.
Chinese economic activities in two countries go very deep. They are both part of the Chinese belt and road initiative, intended for the installation of China closer to the world through investment and infrastructure projects.
In Rwanda, China funded stadiums, schools and highways. Chinese loans are also financial infrastructure projects – a loan for financing a dam and irrigation system, worth around $ 40 million ($ 31 million), was confirmed in January.
For years, most goods are imported in Rwanda from China.
When it comes to Chinese economic relationships with Dr. Congo, the UN Comtrade database shows that China is already the best trade partner Dr. Kongga.
China struggled to ensure access to the mineral wealth of Dr. Kong.
It expanded $ 3.2 billion (2.5 billion pounds) of loans in the country between 2005 and 2022, according to the database of Chinese loans in Africa, managed by the University of Boston, mainly to finance the construction of roads and bridges, and electric network.
China funded and built other large infrastructure projects in Dr. Congo, including hydroelectric power plants and a dry port.
These investments can suggest that in Chinese long -term interests it is quickly determined by the conflict solution.
