China forced to pick sides in Congo conflict
China, which has long maintained a policy of strict neutrality in global conflicts, may be forced to reconsider its stance due to the ongoing war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to BBC News, China’s position has been challenged by Rwanda’s active support for the M23 rebel group, which has significantly escalated the fighting in the eastern DRC.
Initially, China avoided directly naming Rwanda, instead condemning “foreign forces” for sustaining the conflict. However, following M23’s recent military success in capturing the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, China has now been forced to take a stronger stance.
In February, China’s UN ambassador issued a rare direct condemnation, demanding that Rwanda “stop its military support for M23” and “withdraw its forces from DRC territory”. Additionally, China backed a UN Security Council resolution urging an end to Rwandan military involvement.
This shift marks one of the first instances in which China has openly abandoned its policy of neutrality in a major conflict.
“Beijing has long pursued a policy of non-interference in another state’s internal affairs,” explained Professor Zhou Yuyan from the Shanghai Institute for International Studies.
However, since Rwanda’s involvement in the Congolese conflict is no longer “hush-hush” China had no choice but to condemn it.
Beyond diplomatic concerns, China has major economic interests in the DRC, particularly through its Belt and Road initiative. The country is home to numerous Chinese mining companies, which extract vast amounts of cobalt and other rare metals that are vital to China’s technology sector.
Adding to the complexity, China has previously supplied weapons to both Rwandan and the DRC, raising concerns that its military exports could be fuelling a prolonged war in a region where Beijing seeks to maintain a positive diplomatic image.
Despite China’s public condemnation, relations between Beijing and Kigali remain outwardly stable. In a statement, the Rwandan Embassy in Beijing described its ties with China as “productive and excellent”, stating that its respects China’s right to express its opinion on the conflict.
China’s statement comes at a time when Western nations have also intensified their criticism of Rwanda’s role in the Congo crisis.
As previously reported by Maghrebi, Belgium and other European nations have accused Rwanda of “actively supporting the M23 rebel group”, further isolating the country on the international stage.
BBC News, Maghrebi
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