US Special Envoy to Sudan Says He is Disappointed with China

By Wasil Ali

April 23, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — A senior US official today criticized the Chinese government and accused it of being insensitive to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

Richard S. Williamson, new US special envoy to Sudan “Speaking from my responsibility I continue to be disappointed that China doesn’t have greater concern about the people suffering in Darfur and are not proactively helpful to us” the US special envoy to Sudan, Richard Williamson told the Senate foreign relations committee.

Williamson was testifying before the US Congress for the first time since his appointment in December of last year. The hearing was held on the topic named “The Continuing Crisis in Darfur”. The other speakers at the hearing included Jane Lute of the UN Department of Field Support and assistant administrator for Africa at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Katherine Almquist.

The soft spoken envoy told the US senators that China continues to protect the Sudanese government from international pressure and slowing down UN efforts in Darfur as a veto wielding member.

“Yesterday there was a discussion in the UN Security Council (UNSC) about benchmarks; put more pressure for rapid deployment [of peacekeepers to Darfur]. The Chinese position was twofold. Yes it would be good to have more rapid deployment but no let’s not put pressure on them. They said benchmarks are counterproductive” he said.

Williamson’s remarks are a clear departure from those of his predecessor Andrew Natsios who often argued that the Chinese government is doing ‘behind the scenes’ work to pressure the Sudanese government on making concessions.

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