BBC: China violating arms embargo on Sudan

An investigation by BBC program Panorama has found evidence of recent shipments of Chinese arms and military vehicles to Sudan in violation of a UN arms embargo.

Two Chinese-made troop transport vehicles and an anti-aircraft weapon were recovered by rebels in Darfur helping the reporters with their investigation. One of the vehicles has been linked with an attack on the town of Sirba in West Darfur where it was reported to have fired its mounted anti-aircraft weapon directly into homes.

Both vehicles are known to be part of a shipment the UN had traced going into Sudan, but that had disappeared soon after entering the country. The entire shipment had come straight from a Chinese factory and was consigned directly to the Sudanese military.

The export of arms from UN member states to Sudan has been banned since 2005. The measure was intended both to contain the arms fueling the conflict as well as implement sanctions on parties blocking progress on a peace process. Few of the sanctions have been implemented.

The Chinese government has so far refused to respond to the BBC report, claiming it has told the Sudanese government in the past not to use the arms it imports in Darfur. An international lawyer consulted for the investigation, Clare da Silva, responds that:

"It is an empty measure to take the assurances from a partner who clearly has no intention of abiding by the resolution."

Da Silva claims the evidence is a clear case of a violation of the arms embargo and a UN panel of experts has requested access to the BBC's evidence to investigate the case.

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More information on the UN arms embargo can be accessed here.