[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H5955-H5963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF CHINA TO STOP GENOCIDE AND VIOLENCE IN
DARFUR, SUDAN
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 422) calling on the Government of the People's
Republic of China to use its unique influence and economic leverage to
stop genocide and violence in Darfur, Sudan.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 422
Whereas since the conflict in Darfur, Sudan began in 2003,
hundreds of thousands
[[Page H5956]]
of people have been killed and more than 2,500,000 displaced
as a result of the ongoing and escalating violence;
Whereas on July 23, 2004, Congress declared, ``the
atrocities unfolding in Darfur, Sudan, are genocide'' and on
September 23, 2004, then Secretary of State Colin Powell
stated before the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate that, ``genocide has occurred and may still be
occurring in Darfur,'' and ``the Government of Sudan and the
Janjaweed bear responsibility'';
Whereas on October 13, 2006, the President signed the
Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (Public Law 109-344),
which identifies the Government of Sudan as complicit with
the forces committing genocide in the Darfur region and urges
the President to, ``take all necessary and appropriate steps
to deny the Government of Sudan access to oil revenues'';
Whereas President George W. Bush declared in a speech
delivered on April 18, 2007, at the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum that no one ``can doubt that genocide is the
only word for what is happening in Darfur--and that we have a
moral obligation to stop it'';
Whereas the presence of approximately 7,000 African Union
peacekeepers has not deterred the violence and the increasing
attacks by the Government of Sudan and Government-sponsored
Janjaweed militia and rebel groups;
Whereas worsening violence has forced humanitarian
organizations to suspend operations, leaving a substantial
portion of the population of Darfur inaccessible to aid
workers;
Whereas violence has spread to the neighboring states of
Chad and the Central African Republic, threatening regional
peace and security;
Whereas the Government of Sudan continues to refuse to
allow implementation of the full-scale peacekeeping mission
authorized under United Nations Security Council Resolution
1706;
Whereas former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
subsequently negotiated a compromise agreement with the
Government of Sudan for a hybrid United Nations-African Union
peacekeeping mission to be implemented in three phases;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China
has long-standing economic and military ties with Sudan and
continues to strengthen these ties in spite of the on-going
genocide in Darfur, as evidenced by the following actions:
(1) China reportedly purchases as much as 70 percent of
Sudan's oil;
(2) China currently has at least $3,000,000,000 invested in
the Sudanese energy sector, for a total of $10,000,000,000
since the 1990s;
(3) Sudan's Joint Chief of Staff, Haj Ahmed El Gaili,
recently visited Beijing for discussions with Chinese Defense
Minister Cao Gang Chuan and other military officials as part
of an eight-day tour of China; Cao pledged closer military
relations with Sudan, saying that China was ``willing to
further develop cooperation between the two militaries in
every sphere'';
(4) China has reportedly cancelled approximately $100
million in debt owed by the Sudanese Government;
(5) China is building infrastructure in Sudan and provided
funds for a presidential palace in Sudan at a reported cost
of approximately $20,000,000; and
(6) Data provided by the Government of Sudan to the United
Nations for 2005 states that Sudan imported at least
$24,000,000 in arms and ammunition from the People's Republic
of China, as well as nearly $57,000,000 in parts and aircraft
equipment, and $2,000,000 in helicopter and airplane parts
from China, making China the largest provider of military
arms and equipment to Sudan, even as Sudan has defended its
right to transfer and use such military arms and equipment in
Darfur for military operations;
Whereas given its economic interests throughout the region,
China has a unique ability to positively influence the
Government of Sudan to abandon its genocidal policies and to
accept United Nations peacekeepers to join a hybrid United
Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission;
Whereas the President's Special Envoy to Sudan, Andrew S.
Natsios, further said in testimony on April 11, 2007, that
``China's substantial economic investment in Sudan gives it
considerable potential leverage, and we have made clear to
Beijing that the international community will expect China to
be part of the solution'';
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China's
recent appointment of a senior diplomat as China's special
representative on African affairs who shall focus specific
attention on the Darfur issue and its pledge to provide
military engineers to support African Union peacekeeping
forces in Darfur are welcome developments, but do not
demonstrate that Beijing is truly committed to using all the
considerable diplomatic and political means at its disposal
to stop the genocide in Darfur;
Whereas due to its large population, its rapidly growing
global economy, its large research and development
investments and military spending, its seat as a permanent
member of the United Nations Security Council and on the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, China is an emerging power
that is increasingly perceived as a leader with significant
international reach and responsibility;
Whereas in November 2006, China hosted its third Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation with more than 40 heads of state in
attendance and which focused heavily on trade relations and
investment on the African continent as it is expected to
double by 2010;
Whereas China is preparing to host the Olympic Summer Games
of 2008, the most honorable, venerated, and prestigious
international sporting event and has selected ``One World,
One Dream'' as a slogan for those games;
Whereas China should act consistently with the Olympic
standard of preserving human dignity in Darfur, Sudan and
around the world; and
Whereas China has been reluctant to use its full influence
to improve the human rights situation in Darfur: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) calls upon the Government of the People's Republic of
China to--
(A) acknowledge publicly and condemn the atrocities taking
place in Darfur;
(B) cease all military arms, ammunition, and related
military equipment sales to the Government of Sudan; and
(C) take steps to immediately suspend economic cooperation
with the Government of Sudan and investment in Sudan until
and unless the Government of Sudan--
(i) stops its attacks on civilians;
(ii) complies with all United Nations Security Council
resolutions related to Darfur; and
(iii) engages in good faith negotiations with Darfur rebel
groups to achieve a sustainable negotiated peace agreement;
(2) recognizes the close relationship between China and
Sudan and strongly urges the Government of the People's
Republic of China to use its full influence to--
(A) urge the regime in Khartoum to comply with the
deployment of the peacekeeping force authorized by United
Nations Security Council Resolution 1706;
(B) call for Sudanese compliance with United Nations
Security Council Resolutions 1556 and 1564, and the Darfur
Peace Agreement, all of which demand that the Government of
Sudan disarm militias operating in Darfur;
(C) call on all parties to the conflict to adhere to the
2004 N'Djamena ceasefire agreement and the recently-agreed
United Nations communique which commits the Sudanese
Government to improve conditions for humanitarian
organizations and ensure they have unfettered access to the
populations they serve;
(D) emphasize that there can be no military solution to the
conflict in Darfur and that the formation and implementation
of a legitimate peace agreement between all parties will
contribute toward the welfare and stability of the entire
nation and broader region;
(E) urge all rebel groups to unify and assist all parties
to come to the negotiating table in good faith;
(F) urge the Government of southern Sudan to play a more
active role in pressing for legitimate peace talks and take
immediate steps to support and assist in the revitalization
of such talks along one single coordinated track;
(G) engage collaboratively in high-level diplomacy and
multilateral efforts toward a renewed peace process; and
(H) join the international community in imposing economic
and other consequences on the Government of Sudan if that
Government continues to carry out or support attacks on
civilians and frustrate diplomatic efforts; and
(3) recognizes that the spirit of the Olympics, which is to
bring together nations and people from all over the world in
peace, is incompatible with any actions directly or
indirectly supporting acts of genocide.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Tanner) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
General Leave
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution,
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Six days ago, the President imposed a new series of sanctions on the
Sudanese government and its murderous leaders. The administration may
have sent a stronger message a month ago, but did not. But new American
sanctions, however belatedly imposed, are in place. Now the rest of the
civilized world must respond. Strong sanctions represent a crucial
bridge in efforts to force the regime in Khartoum to give
[[Page H5957]]
up its reprehensible program of genocide in Darfur. But it is now
readily apparent that we can only cross that bridge with the help of
China.
Time and again, we have witnessed national interests taking
precedence over the destruction of people's lives, their society and
their culture. China, purely for economic interests, in our opinion,
has stood firmly in the way of a robust international response to the
Darfur genocide.
It has been 3 years since this Congress declared that the unfolding
atrocities in Darfur constitute genocide. Yet, since it began, China
has acted as a shield for Sudan against international criticism and
tough sanctions at the United Nations.
In spite of unimpeachable evidence of genocide and other atrocities,
China has continued as Sudan's largest trading partner and the main
foreign investor in its oil sector.
China's sales of arms and military equipment to Khartoum is even more
disturbing. But China has taken it one step further by actually
blocking efforts to send international forces into Darfur.
Several countries have been resistant. But among the states unwilling
to support a robust civilian protection operation to stop the genocide,
China assumes a unique culpability because of its influence, its
permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, and its role in Sudan.
In 2004, China forced the Security Council to water down an oil
sanctions resolution and threatened it would veto any future
resolutions sanctioning Sudan.
China shielded Khartoum against international sanctions while the
Sudanese military drove tens of thousands out of their communities and
oil regions just to speed exploration.
In 2006, China explicitly argued to the Security Council against a
peacekeeping deployment to Darfur, arguing that it could not support
the resolution because Sudan's government was not yet ready to accept
U.N. peacekeepers on its soil.
Not only did China oppose the deployment on behalf of Sudan, its
Ambassador lobbied hard for the Russians to take the same position.
Only under relentless international pressure, with the actress Mia
Farrow and others raising the specter that the upcoming Beijing
Olympics will become the ``Genocide Olympics,'' has China finally begun
to take a few small, constructive steps in the right direction on
Sudan.
If we are going to save lives in Darfur, it is imperative that we
keep the pressure on China to force Sudan to end the atrocities, resume
peace talks and bring resolution to the horror known as Darfur.
This very important resolution calls on China to condemn explicitly
the atrocities in Darfur, to cease military arms sales, to suspend
economic cooperation with Sudan and use its influence to urge President
Bashir to comply with full and immediate deployment of the African
Union peacekeeping force.
It also calls on all parties to the conflict to adhere to the
ceasefire agreement and allow unfettered access by humanitarian workers
to those in need. It's a clear signal to China and Sudan that their
relationship cannot and will not withstand the glare of international
scrutiny.
Unless it wants to permanently scar its reputation, China must act as
a responsible world power and use its influence to stop this now.
I therefore urge passage and commend the author, my friend and
colleague, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, for her tireless leadership on
the Darfur issue.
Let me also thank our majority leader, Steny Hoyer, for his
consistent and effective efforts to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in strong support of House Resolution 422, which calls on the
government of the People's Republic of China to use its unique
influence and leverage to stop genocide and violence in Darfur.
I wish to thank my colleague from California, Ms. Barbara Lee, for
introducing this important measure, and for all of the cosponsors who
she has gathered and their strong and steadfast support of efforts to
halt the humanitarian disaster which continues to unfold daily in
Sudan.
I had the honor of traveling to the camps of the internally displaced
persons in Darfur with Ms. Lee, and I thank her for her courageous
leadership in this effort.
In July 2004, as my good friend from Tennessee stated, the House
boldly declared that genocide was occurring in the Darfur region of
western Sudan. Nearly 3 years later, the bombing, rape and murder
continue.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, and more than two
million people have been forced from their homes by marauding militias
and a callous government bent on total destruction.
And while I'm encouraged by the leadership of our United States
Government and attempts to end this carnage, I cannot help but feel a
profound sense of frustration. Where is the rest of the international
community?
The U.S. Government has provided vital support for the African Union,
the United Nations peacekeeping forces. We've led diplomatic efforts to
find a political solution to the crisis. We've donated over $2.6
billion in humanitarian assistance for Darfur and Chad since 2005.
And just last week the President announced that he would impose tough
additional sanctions against key individuals and businesses linked to
human rights abuses in the region. Included among those businesses were
five major petrochemical companies owned or controlled by the Sudanese
regime, and an air transport company transferring arms to fighters in
Darfur.
President Bush also announced that he had directed the U.S. Permanent
Representative to the U.N. to seek passage of a Security Council
resolution which would sanction the regime in Khartoum, expand and
extend the arms embargo and impose a no-fly zone over Darfur.
These measures have been characterized as unhelpful by some,
including the Sudanese regime's representatives here in Washington, as
well as by Chinese officials.
And it's no wonder, Mr. Speaker. As the resolution before us
indicates, China purchases up to 70 percent of Sudan's oil. It has $3
billion invested in the energy sector in Sudan, and it has exported at
least $24 million in arms and ammunition and another $59 million in
aircraft equipment to Sudan.
This continues, despite the Sudanese regime's insistence that it can
use these funds and equipment for military operations in Darfur; that
is, to continue the carnage against Sudanese civilians there.
Regrettably, the Chinese leadership appears unwilling to sacrifice
its economic interests in Sudan for the sake of humanity. This is
unacceptable, and it is also no surprise.
Beijing must take immediate steps to prevent further death, misery
and destruction by compelling the regime in Khartoum to end these
atrocities.
{time} 1610
This means suspending economic cooperation with and stopping all
military equipment sales to Sudan until the Sudanese regime stops its
assaults on civilians in Darfur, allows the deployment of U.N.
peacekeepers, disarms militias, and brings all rebel groups and high-
level diplomats together to negotiate a political solution.
Through this resolution we are challenging China as well as other
countries who have influence in Sudan to stand with the United States
at the United Nations and press for immediate deployment of a robust
peacekeeping mission in Darfur as authorized by Security Council
Resolution No. 1706. We call on them to support and enforce a rigorous,
multilateral sanctions regime against those individuals and businesses
which are complicit in genocide. If China and other nations with
influence in Sudan choose to look the other way, then we should
reevaluate our relationship with those governments. It should be made
clear that governments allied with Khartoum are complicit in a war on
civilians and the immeasurable human suffering occurring in Darfur.
I strongly support Ms. Lee's timely resolution, and I take heart in
the moral strength that has been demonstrated by this administration,
this body, and the American people.
[[Page H5958]]
The people of Darfur have known too much suffering with the leaders
of the world showing too much procrastination and China showing far too
much negligence. The time for action is now. It is long overdue, Mr.
Speaker.
I thank the gentlewoman from California for introducing this
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the
author of the resolution, Ms. Barbara Lee of California.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Tennessee for
yielding, for his leadership and support to end the genocide in Darfur,
and also let me just thank our chairman, Congressman Lantos; our
ranking member, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of the Foreign Affairs Committee;
and Chairman Payne and the ranking member of the Africa subcommittee,
Mr. Smith, for their leadership on the issue of Darfur and for working
together to make sure that all of our efforts here continue to be
bipartisan. We have over 128 cosponsors of this resolution today.
Again, thank you to Congressman Jerry Moran of Kansas and also
Congressman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts and to all of our staff.
This is a mission that we are all on. Many of us have visited on
several occasions, and each time we visit Darfur we come back
recommitted and rededicated to do what we can each and every day to end
this horrific genocide.
Thirteen years ago, the world stood by as nearly 1 million people, 1
million people, were slaughtered in the genocide in Rwanda. The best
our country could do then, unfortunately, was to apologize for our
failure to act, and that was after the fact. Many of us swore that
another Rwanda would never happen again on our watch. But today, Mr.
Speaker, it is happening again.
Nearly 3 years ago, under the bold leadership of our good friend,
Chairman Donald Payne, on July 22, 2004, Congress formally declared
that genocide was taking place in Darfur. Estimates indicate that
nearly 450,000 people have been killed, and 2.5 million innocent
civilians have been displaced to date.
I witnessed this ongoing tragedy for the first time in 2005 when I
visited the refugee camps in Chad and Darfur with two great
humanitarian leaders, Don Cheadle and Paul Rusesabagina, this
delegation led, again bipartisan, by Chairman Ed Royce. In February,
2006, under the leadership of our great Speaker, Congresswoman Nancy
Pelosi, I had the opportunity once again to visit the refugee camps in
another region of Darfur. This again was a bipartisan delegation. And
just this past April, along with my colleague Congresswoman Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen, we visited another region in Darfur as part of this visit
organized by our majority leader, Steny Hoyer.
As Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has said, what we saw in Darfur, of
course, is continuing to deteriorate. More and more people are dying,
and even humanitarian aid workers are at risk. The day before our
delegation arrived, five soldiers from Senegal were killed in Darfur,
African Union soldiers there to protect innocent civilians.
Unfortunately, for many Darfurians the situation remains grim. Last
week, many of us expressed our support for the President's announcement
of additional sanctions on businesses controlled by the government of
Sudan and on individuals in the Sudanese government. Today, we take
another step forward by calling on the Chinese to use their unique
influence with Sudan to end the genocide.
Mr. Speaker, there is no way to sugarcoat this. China is the
principal trading partner of a genocidal regime that has thumbed its
nose at the international community. China reportedly purchases as much
as 70 percent of Sudan's oil and has cancelled over $100 million in
debt and has provided $20 million in funding to build a palace for
General Bashir. China unquestionably has the unique ability to
influence Khartoum in a positive manner, but they cannot do so by
simply following a policy of appeasement. They must put real pressure
on General Bashir to comply with all U.N. resolutions and fully,
unconditionally accept the U.N.-AU peacekeeping mission. And they must
urge Sudan to pursue a renewed peace process with all parties, and they
must insist that humanitarian organizations have unfettered access to
the 2.5 million people who have been displaced.
Most importantly, they should deny Bashir the tools to continue
perpetrating the genocide by cutting off, and I mean cutting off, all
military arms sales and suspending economic opportunities and
cooperation with the government of Sudan.
The economic costs to China for taking these steps today is minimal
compared to the benefit they would achieve if they would provide to the
people of Darfur an end to the genocide and the international acclaim
that China could win by helping to end the genocide.
I urge our Chinese friends not to view this resolution as a
condemnation but to view it as an opportunity to take action to end an
urgent moral and humanitarian crisis. So we are urging the Chinese
government to act, and our own steps must increase to stop this
horrific and unbelievable tragedy occurring on our watch.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of the Members here who are speaking
in support of this resolution.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to Judge Poe of
Texas, a distinguished member of our Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for yielding
time.
Sudan is responsible for the genocide in Darfur. ``Genocide'' is a
fancy term, Mr. Speaker, that means organized murder by a government.
The violence has displaced over 2 million people, and it has claimed at
least 500,000 lives. President Bush has announced tougher sanctions on
businesses and individuals dealing with the government of Sudan, but
the perpetrators of evil are also propped up by China.
Seventy percent of Sudan's oil goes to China, and loads of Chinese
arms regularly find their way to these demons of the desert. No wonder
China is road-blocking change in Sudan. It is all about money and who
gets it.
Though the Chinese have appointed envoys, they haven't done anything
to pressure the Sudanese to stop murdering their own people. I think it
is safe to say, Mr. Speaker, that as long as China continues to prop up
the evil in Sudan, the Chinese government is complicit in this
atrocity; and I don't think it is too much to ask Congress, in the name
of basic human rights, to demand that China use its influence in Sudan
to help stop the genocide. That is why I am proud to cosponsor this
resolution offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
Mr. Speaker, the Chinese have an opportunity to show the world that
they care about innocent people and take this blemish off of their
historical record. It is in their best interest, not to mention the
best interest of the victims of Darfur, that they pressure Sudan to
stop the killing of their own people.
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield 2 minutes to Ms.
Shelley Berkley of Nevada.
{time} 1620
Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of this
important legislation.
Everyone in this body knows about the atrocities being committed in
Darfur. Congress has already labeled them a genocide, and the
administration followed suit shortly thereafter.
Last year, we passed the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, which
seeks to give teeth to our declarations and clamp down on the Sudanese
government. And yet, despite all of this activity, the horrors
continue. The Sudanese regime still has not gotten the message that the
United States is serious about stopping the bloodshed.
Many countries continue to view the situation as ``business as
usual.'' China is the largest foreign investor in Sudan and continues
to provide the Sudanese blood-soaked government with interest free
loans. They are even engaging in arms sales, despite the clear evidence
of massacre, rape, destruction, displacement and genocide.
Mr. Speaker, if we are serious about stopping the bloodshed in Sudan,
we cannot allow business to continue as usual. The Chinese government
and governments throughout the world need to start getting the message:
If you continue to invest in murderous, blood-thirsty regimes, if you
continue to invest in Sudan, there will be consequences, there will be
very serious consequences.
[[Page H5959]]
I urge support for this resolution.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am now pleased to yield 4 minutes to
a leader in worldwide human rights efforts, Mr. Smith of New Jersey.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I thank my good friend and colleague for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Ms. Lee for introducing H. Res.
422, which calls on the government of the People's Republic of China to
use its unique influence and economic leverage to stop the atrocities
being committed in Darfur.
This measure builds on numerous steps that this Congress and the
United States Government, through the White House and the executive
branch, have taken over the past several years to call a halt to the
relentless killings, rapes and displacement of the innocent men, women
and children in that region.
Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that Sudan's soil has been soaked in
the blood of innocent people. Sudan has not suffered just one, but two
genocides. Everybody will recall that in southern Sudan, some two
million people were slaughtered by the Bashir government; another 4
million people were displaced.
When President Bush came into office, he announced that Senator
Danforth would become our special envoy, and very vigorous and robust
efforts were made to try to stop the killing in southern Sudan. We
succeeded. But after a short period of time new hostilities broke out
in the Darfur region in 2003, in February, and the blood-letting was
beginning again. Darfur is now the second genocide that has occurred in
Sudan.
I think we should note for the record that no other nation on Earth
has done as much as the United States to stop the genocide. Most of the
food and the medicines at the refugee camps that my colleagues and I
have all visited, looked in the eyes of so many people who have
suffered so much, has come from the U.S. taxpayer. I think that should
give us some sense of meaning that we have played a significant role in
alleviating at least some of this suffering.
Just last week, President Bush announced the expansion and tightening
of economic sanctions against the Sudanese government. These sanctions
include the barring of 30 more companies owned and controlled by the
government of Sudan from the U.S. financial system, and it is a crime
for Americans to knowingly engage in businesses with these companies.
It is apparent, Mr. Speaker, that more can and must be done by other
members of the international community to address these crimes against
humanity. A primary culprit is the complicity in this genocide by the
People's Republic of China. Instead of joining the international
community in calling an end to the genocide, China has served as
enabler-in-chief to the atrocities that continue to take place in
Darfur. Not only has the Chinese government provided Bashir with funds
and weapons, about over $90 million worth in 2005 alone, but it has
lavished him with gifts and a false sense of legitimacy. The money and
the weapons that Sudan has received from China has made the Chinese
government absolutely complicit in these crimes against humanity.
And now we see China's thwarting or attempting to thwart a U.S.-led
effort at the U.N. Security Council for a resolution that would impose
extended international arms embargo and new sanctions against the
Sudanese government. According to Reuters last week, the Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said, ``New sanctions against Sudan would
only complicate the issue. China appeals to all parties to maintain
restraint and patience.''
I would urge this spokeswoman and all Chinese officials to go to
Darfur and again look into the eyes of those who have suffered, look in
the eyes of at least some of the 2 million people who have been
displaced from their homes, look into the eyes of some of the families,
the survivors of the 450,000 that have been killed and say, ``let's
look for patience and restraint.''
China has covered itself in shame. It has enabled two genocides,
southern Sudan and now in Darfur. Still, because so many victims are
going to be suffering today and tomorrow and the next day, we appeal to
the Chinese government, Mr. Speaker, to join us as peacemakers in that
troubled region.
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Mr. Steve Israel
from New York for 2 minutes.
Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee, and I
rise in support of this very important resolution.
I want to thank the sponsor of this resolution, the gentlewoman from
California, not only for authoring it, but for working with me several
weeks ago on an amendment that passed by a bipartisan margin in the
House of Representatives to send a message to the leaders of Sudan that
we will not tolerate genocide and in fact we will explore the upgrade
of the Abeche airbase, which is located 100 miles from the border in
Chad.
This is a very important resolution. I rise in support of this
resolution today because too few people rose in support of those from
my faith who were victimized by a holocaust in the 1930s and 1940s.
When I came to this body, Mr. Speaker, I made a vow that I would
stand up and oppose and fight against and speak out against any
genocide, and speak out against any power that was wittingly or
unwittingly empowering or assisting in a genocide, which is what brings
me to the floor today.
I was recently in China just 2 months ago engaging the Chinese
government on a broad range of energy security issues. China has one of
the world's fastest growing economies, arguably the world's fastest
growing economy. By the year 2030, it will have more cars on its roads
than we have on our roads. It is expanding its defense budget. China
can be an important partner with the United States in leading the
world, but with that role in leading the world comes a responsibility
not to empower, not to assist any kind of genocide. It is time for the
leadership of China to stand up with our democracy and say no to the
genocide that is occurring in Darfur, and China has a critical
opportunity to do that. They purchase 70 percent of Sudan's oil. They
invested over $10 million in the Sudanese energy sector over the last
two decades. They are the main supplier of arms to Sudan with $83
million exported there in 2005.
Mr. Speaker, we want to work with China. We want to engage China. We
want to work with China to lead the world in a constructive way on
stability and peace and economic development and environmental
stewardship, but China needs to show the world that it is willing to
engage those who are perpetrating a genocide, to draw the line and say
it will not be tolerated. That is precisely what this resolution does.
I am very pleased and proud to support it.
I thank the gentlewoman from California again for her leadership, and
I will continue, with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis, to stand up
and speak out when genocide is committed, or against those who assist
in the commission of a genocide.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield such time as he
may consume to Mr. Goodlatte of Virginia, with whom I had the honor of
traveling to Darfur on Ms. Lee and Mr. Hoyer's trip to that area
recently.
Mr. GOODLATTE. I thank the gentlewoman, and I thank her for her
leadership on this issue.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this year I had the opportunity to travel with
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, Majority Leader Hoyer and other members of
a bipartisan congressional delegation to the war-torn nation of Sudan
and see firsthand one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent times.
As a Nation dedicated to freedom and the rights of the individual,
the United States has a responsibility to speak out when those rights
are violated. While in Darfur, we saw directly the atrocities in this
besieged nation. We toured the Alsalam Internally Displaced Persons
Camp, where 47,000 people seeking food, water and safety live in
crowded, deplorable and often still unsafe conditions.
{time} 1630
This is one of nearly 100 such camps which collectively have more
than 2 million people. They live in small, makeshift twig huts, many
only the size of a pup tent. On numerous occasions, the IDP camps
themselves have been attacked. And this is just one of
[[Page H5960]]
many examples of the deplorable situation in Darfur.
There is no doubt that the ongoing crisis in Darfur has led to a
major humanitarian disaster. We along with the rest of the world must
band together to bring change to this horrible situation. Next year the
world will join together to celebrate the Olympic Games. The Olympic
spirit brings together nations and people from all over the world in a
spirit of peace. The People's Republic of China as the Olympic host
country has a profound responsibility to ensure that spirit of peace
will be celebrated throughout the games. However, I am deeply worried
that this spirit will be deeply compromised due to China's implicit
acquiescence to the atrocities being committed in Darfur.
The People's Republic of China has a deep relationship with Sudan and
has substantial economic investment there. China's connection to Sudan,
a country that supports the genocide of its own people, is troubling
and seriously undermines the spirit of the Olympic Games.
There is no question that China is in a position to help improve the
situation in Darfur. As an economic partner to Sudan, China must use
all means possible to help bring an end to this genocide. As they seek
to host the world, they must show the true extent of their leadership
and call for an end to this genocide.
House Resolution 422 rightfully calls on the People's Republic of
China to end military and economic assistance to Sudan until Sudan
ceases attacking civilians and promotes the humanitarian and
peacekeeping efforts going on in Darfur in its own country. I urge my
colleagues to support this resolution and call on China to fully
support the Olympic spirit by calling on Sudan to end the genocide in
Darfur.
While I have never seen anything like what I saw in Darfur, the
situation is not completely hopeless. The humanitarian assistance the
United States is providing is helping millions of people in desperate
circumstances. But we must continue to do more and we must urge the
international community to join with us to bring an end to the
genocide. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing to work with my
colleagues in a bipartisan spirit to bring an end to this international
crisis.
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I now am proud to yield the floor to Mr.
George Miller from California for 2 minutes.
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding
and I thank all of my colleagues who have spoken on this resolution and
certainly to Barbara Lee, my colleague from California, who has been
such a not only supporter and the author of this resolution but all of
our efforts to change the situation in Darfur.
I had the honor to accompany Congresswoman Lee and our Speaker to
Darfur a year ago February and saw the incredible devastation and the
brutality and the genocide that is taking place there and vowed to do
whatever I can to see if we can change it. I have been wearing this
green band to save Darfur for over a year and a half. But this band
will not save the people of Darfur, all of my constituents, thousands
of my constituents who have marched throughout the Bay area, who have
come across the country to march to save Darfur will not save Darfur.
What will save Darfur is the nations of the world owing up to their
responsibility to reject this genocide, to stop this genocide, to stop
this holocaust against these people and get the government of Sudan to
do so.
Of course today we are here to call upon the nation of China to owe
up to its responsibilities, given its huge influence, its economic
influence, its military influence, its resource influence in Sudan, to
use that influence to get the government of Sudan to start to sit down
and to negotiate with all of the parties to end the arms trade that is
taking place, to stop the economic engagement until such time as these
people in Darfur are once again made safe, until these people in Darfur
are once again allowed to return to their villages, to their families
and start to put their lives back together and to end the genocide.
That's what is necessary to be done.
My colleague Mr. Goodlatte referred to the Olympics. It's hard to
believe that the world is going to look upon the host of the Olympics
and see there at the same time a nation that is underwriting a
genocide. That is absolutely on a daily basis by its inaction and then
by its positive actions underwriting and allowing the genocide to go
forward. It's not that China can stop this alone, but in concert with
the rest of the nations of the world that have called out for an end to
this genocide, to take actions against the economic activity and the
military activity in Sudan.
Congresswoman Lee has pushed the effort of divestiture that has been
followed up in many States and cities and universities and other
entities. This has got to continue to stop the genocide that now so
many of my colleagues have witnessed firsthand on those terrible,
terrible visits to Darfur where we see the worst of humanity and the
violence against these individuals and their families and their
children. It has got to stop. I want to thank my colleagues for
bringing this bipartisan resolution to the floor to help us try and end
the genocide in Darfur.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time we have?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Tennessee has 5 minutes.
Mr. TANNER. I am pleased to yield to the author of the resolution our
remaining time.
Ms. LEE. Let me thank the gentleman once again for yielding and would
like to thank so many of our young people from around the country who
have been nonstop in their work to end the genocide. Also, I would like
to thank and recognize and salute the faith community, because this has
been a movement to save Darfur by young people in the faith community.
I would just like to mention a few of the organizations that have been
unbelievable and unrelenting in their commitment. The Save Darfur
Coalition, and my colleague from California referred to our arm bands,
Not on Our Watch, Save Darfur. The Sudan Divestment Task Force. The
American Jewish World Service. STAND, which is the Student Anti-
Genocide Coalition. Dream for Darfur. Genocide Intervention Network.
ENOUGH: The Project to End Genocide and Mass Atrocities. These are
examples of the type of organizations at the grassroots level that have
been working day and night to help us here in the House of
Representatives understand our focus and what we need to do as a
country to join hands to end this horrible massacre that is taking
place.
I just want to once again thank Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,
Chairman Lantos, Mr. Tanner from Tennessee and especially once again
Congressman Don Payne for beating the drum, oftentime being a lone
voice in the wilderness, but making sure that the rest of the world
knew that it is incumbent upon the United States Government to lead to
end this genocide and to say again to our country, to the world, not on
our watch will this take place. And today we are taking one more step
closer to bringing the world together to ask China to join with us, as
Congressman George Miller said, to stop underwriting this genocide that
is taking place and to come together now with people and countries of
good conscience who stand together to say to General Bashir and the
Sudanese government to stop this carnage, to allow the people of Darfur
to return home to their villages. They want to go home. They want to go
live their lives and raise their children. We want the international
forces, the U.N. forces, to go in and to help protect the refugees and
to help the AU forces to make sure that people are protected until they
can go home. And, of course, finally to find a long-term political
solution.
A month ago we called upon the League of Arab Nations to do the same
thing. And so it's time that the world stand together and say, no more.
It's time that we stand together and say to the people of Darfur that
hope is coming and that 450,000 people should not have been tolerated,
but we don't want to see another single death occur as a result. China
has got to help us do this. And so today we are asking the Chinese
government in the spirit of cooperation to help stop this genocide that
is taking place.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, a little over a year ago, Chairman Lantos
and I protested in front of the Sudanese Embassy about the
[[Page H5961]]
continuing genocide in Darfur. I'm privileged to say that I've shared
jail time with the distinguished gentleman from California.
I also want to thank Congresswoman Lee for her leadership on this
issue, and I'm honored to be an original cosponsor of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, others have already described the terrible humanitarian
crisis affecting the civilian population of Darfur. Crimes against
humanity are committed on a daily basis. President Bush and the
Congress have determined the systematic killings and deprivations in
Darfur constitute acts of genocide.
These serious matters demand a sustained, multilateral response by
the United States and the international community. Together, we must
pressure the Government of Sudan to stop the killing, stop the arming
and support of proxy militias, and negotiate and implement a just and
lasting peace.
Key to the success of such a strategy is the active support of
Sudan's major economic and political partners: China, Russia, Malaysia,
Egypt and India.
China is Sudan's largest economic partner and its largest provider of
military arms and equipment.
China can play a significant, perhaps even decisive, role in ending
the genocide in Darfur and convincing Khartoum to negotiate a lasting
peace accord.
But will it?
China has taken some steps in the right direction. It supported the
deployment of a joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force,
and recently appointed a special envoy to Darfur.
But rather than condemn the violence against defenseless civilians,
China's envoy cited poverty as the reason for Darfur's suffering.
Did poverty displace over two-and-a-half million people into camps,
Mr. Speaker?
Did poverty force another half a million to flee the country and live
in refugee camps?
I visited some of these camps in eastern Chad, Mr. Speaker. I saw
first-hand how the conflict in Darfur is destabilizing Sudan's
neighbors.
Did poverty burn Darfur's villages to the ground, poison water wells,
rape women, murder men, and leave children to die of hunger and thirst?
No, Mr. Speaker. The regime sitting in Khartoum has orchestrated and
condoned these actions.
This resolution asks China to acknowledge this violence and use its
influence to stop the death and destruction taking place in Darfur.
To stop selling military arms and equipment to Sudan.
To exercise its considerable economic leverage by suspending its
economic ties until Khartoum stops the killing, complies fully with
U.N. Security Council resolutions, and enters good faith negotiations
to end the fighting in Darfur.
Next year, China will host the 2008 Summer Olympics. It has chosen as
its theme for the Games a motto filled with hope: ``One World, One
Dream.''
But life in Darfur is no dream, Mr. Speaker. It's an unspeakable
nightmare.
China has the ability to change that reality.
It is, as always, Mr. Speaker, a matter of political will.
Is China's so-called dream for the world nothing more than a paper
banner carried around by a cute and cuddly mascot?
Or does China genuinely want to play a responsible role in world and
human events and help stop the genocide in Darfur?
We are watching, Mr. Speaker.
The world is watching, Mr. Speaker.
I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 422.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 422,
which calls on the Government of the People's Republic of China to use
its unique influence and economic leverage to stop genocide and
violence in Darfur, Sudan. I traveled to Darfur in February 2006. I
will never forget what I saw, nor will I relent in my work to end the
ongoing genocide.
China, if it chose to, could play a critical role in ending the
genocide in Darfur. The President's Special Envoy to Sudan, Andrew S.
Natsios, has said that ``China's substantial economic investment in
Sudan gives it considerable potential leverage, and we have made clear
to Beijing that the international community will expect China to be
part of the solution.'' China has a close relationship with the
Government of Sudan, economically and militarily. It purchases 70
percent of Sudan's oil. China has agreed to cancel nearly $100 million
if Sudan's debt to the country, and it has invested over $10 million in
the Sudanese energy sector over the last two decades. China, already
the main supplier of arms to Sudan with $83 million exported there in
2005, recently agreed to cooperate more closely militarily ``in every
sphere.''
With this resolution we are asking China to acknowledge and condemn
the violence taking place in Darfur, Sudan. Additionally, we are
calling on China to cease all military arms and equipments sales to
Sudan. Finally, we are strongly encouraging China to suspend economic
ties to Sudan until the Government of Sudan stops attacking civilians,
complies with U.N. Security Council resolutions, and enters into peace
negotiations with rebel groups. China has the ability to end the
genocide and horror. I hope it chooses to act immediately.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this
important resolution.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of H. Res. 422, calling on the People's Republic of China to use their
influence and economic leverage with the Government of Sudan to stop
the genocide and violence in Darfur. I am proud to join a large number
of my colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, in cosponsoring this
important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, we stand in serious risk of allowing the ongoing
slaughter in Darfur to become one of the blackest marks on humankind's
history. This is absolutely unacceptable. It has been nearly 3 years
since we in Congress declared that ``the atrocities unfolding in
Darfur, Sudan, are genocide,'' a sentiment that has been repeated only
recently by President Bush, who went on to say ``we have a moral
obligation to stop it.'' Congress has been outspoken in expressing a
bipartisan consensus of disgust at the atrocious human rights abuses
committed in the western region of Sudan.
Genocide in Darfur continues to play out on our watch. Current
estimates put the death toll at 450,000 people, with an additional two
million driven from their homes and livelihoods into wandering
uncertainty or refugee camps. More than 3.5 million people within
Darfur are currently entirely reliant on the international community
for the crucial aid that might enable them to survive.
Some valuable foundations have been laid. The 22,500-strong U.N.
peacekeeping mission authorized by United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1706 is absolutely necessary to boost the brave but
struggling African Union forces already in the region. These U.N.
soldiers must be deployed immediately in Sudan, and given unimpeded
access to the Darfur region. We must continue to press this issue until
U.N. boots are actually on the ground in Darfur.
To do this, we must step up pressure on China. As the principle
export destination of Sudanese oil, China is complicit in the genocide
perpetrated by the Sudanese government. However, the immense economic
and diplomatic weight wielded by the Chinese government could be used
to great effect in ending the killing in Darfur, if applied to that
end. It remains my hope that China may be persuaded to provide the type
of constructive leadership in Sudan befitting a great power.
To this end, this resolution strongly urges China to acknowledge and
condemn the atrocities in Darfur, to cease all military arms and
related sales, to suspend economic cooperation with the Government of
Sudan, and to work to positively influence the Government of Sudan to
achieve a number of specific objectives, including the full compliance
with Security Council Resolutions.
As China prepares to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, I believe we
should expect China to work to live up to its own Olympic slogan: ``One
World. One Dream.'' The time for admirable speeches and impassioned
rhetoric, valuable though these are, has passed. The people of Darfur
need definitive action and decisive leadership, and they need it now.
Now is the moment to seize upon bipartisan common ground, and to work
together to respond actively, to fulfill our humanitarian promises, and
to finally help bring an end to this shameful chapter in human history.
This bill is an important, definitive, and imaginative step toward this
goal, and I commend my colleague for introducing this bill.
Mr. Speaker, Darfur continues to burn on our watch. Since the
genocide began, we have commemorated both the 60th anniversary of the
liberation of Auschwitz, and the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan
genocide with candles and powerful speeches of regret. We have
expressed a bipartisan consensus against the genocide, and yet it
continues.
Though we in Congress are currently faced with a number of important
and pressing issues vying for our attention, Darfur must be made a
priority, and it must remain so until the genocide has ended. I
strongly support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do so as well.
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong
support of H. Res. 422.
This resolution aims at encouraging the People's Republic of China to
use its influence as one of Sudan's chief purchasers of oil to place
pressure on the Sudanese government to improve the conditions for the
people in the Darfur region and allow humanitarian organizations to
enter the region and assist the people of Darfur.
The underlying basis for the conflict in the Darfur region is
difficult to define. Some scholars describe it as a conflict between
Arab and African cultures, although this is a simplistic
[[Page H5962]]
view. Whatever the foundation of the conflict, the Nile Valley region
(the area around the Darfur region in Sudan), has had cultural
conflicts dating as far back as the fourteenth century.
The current conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan places the
Sudanese military and the Janjaweed militia against rebel groups,
including the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality
Movement. The Sudanese government, while denying its support for the
Janjaweed militia, has nonetheless provided funding and weapons to the
Janjaweed.
Because of this military conflict, humanitarian aid groups have been
unable to reach most parts of the Darfur region. Further, journalists
have been prevented from entering the region by the Sudanese
government, thus ensuring that many of the atrocities occurring in
Darfur go unreported.
U.N. officials have estimated that over 400,000 Darfur residents have
died since the conflict began, many due to starvation. Further
estimates put the number of residents displaced from their homes at
over 2 million.
It is important that the United States look to any means available to
quell the atrocious acts occurring in Darfur. As a leading arms dealer
to the country of Sudan, The People's Republic of China is uniquely
situated to encourage the Sudanese government to accept the decisions
of the United Nations with regard to helping the inhabitants of the
Darfur region.
As China readies itself for the spotlight on the world stage at the
2008 Beijing Olympics, it is important that China, along with the rest
of the world, step up its influence on the Sudanese government and
ensure that the atrocities and human rights violations taking place in
the Darfur region are put to an end.
I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my
colleagues in support of ending the genocide and violence in Darfur,
Sudan.
For far too long, the international community has paid inadequate
attention and devoted insufficient resources to stopping the crisis in
Darfur. Although the problems of Sudan lay a long way from our homes,
we have learned from the Holocaust in Europe, as well as ethnic
cleansing in Yugoslavia and genocide in Rwanda, that an assault on
humanity anywhere is an assault on humanity everywhere. We cannot
continue to ignore this genocide without diminishing our own humanity.
As a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, I am committed
to bringing security and relief to the people of Darfur. I have led
efforts to encourage state, local, and university divestment of funds
from companies that conduct business operations in Sudan. And now I
join my colleagues in urging China to do the same.
Given its economic interests throughout the region, China has a
unique ability to positively influence the Government of Sudan to
abandon its genocidal policies and to accept the United Nations'
peacekeeping mission. To be accepted as a responsible player at the
world's diplomatic table, China must end all military and economic
assistance to the government of Sudan until Sudan stops overt and
covert support for attacks on civilians and engages in meaningful peace
negotiations.
All members of the international community share a moral obligation
to end to the human suffering in Darfur. The situation is dire, but I
am confident that we can all do our part to help stop this genocide and
bring peace and stability to millions of innocent men, woman, and
children.
Calling on the People's Republic of China to use its influence to
help stop the genocide in Sudan is the right thing to do. That is why I
urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H. Res. 422.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H. Res. 422, which calls
on China to use its leverage with the government of Sudan to end the
genocide in Darfur.
The ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan already is
believed to have caused the deaths of almost half a million people.
More than 200,000 people have been killed by Sudanese Government forces
and armed militias since 2003, and another 200,000 people have died as
a result of the deliberate destruction of homes, crops and water
supplies and the resulting conditions of famine and disease. Over one-
third of the population of Darfur has been displaced, and the United
Nations estimated that almost 250,000 people have been displaced in the
past 6 months alone, due primarily to government-sponsored militia
attacks.
China, unlike most nations in the international community, has
cultivated a close relationship with the Government of Sudan. China
maintains close military ties with Sudan and purchased almost $2
billion worth of Sudanese oil last year. China also has cancelled $100
million in Sudanese debt and provided an additional $20 million to
finance the construction of a presidential palace in the capital city.
As a result, China is in a unique position to put pressure on the
Government of Sudan to stop the violence in Darfur. So far, it has
failed or refused to do so.
This resolution urges China to acknowledge and condemn the atrocities
in Darfur, cease all weapons sales to Sudan, and suspend economic
cooperation with Sudan. The resolution also urges China to use its
leverage to influence the Government of Sudan to: comply with United
Nations Security Council Resolutions providing for disarmament of
militias in Darfur and deployment of a full-scale peacekeeping force;
participate in peace negotiations to secure a legitimate peace
agreement between all parties; and improve working conditions for
humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan and ensure they have
access to the 2.5 million people displaced by this genocide.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I urge China to
join with the international community and take a stand against genocide
in Darfur.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 422, which
calls upon the Government of the People's Republic of China to use its
unique influence and economic leverage to stop the genocide in Darfur.
The violence in Darfur grows more gruesome by the day. I led the
first congressional delegation to Darfur in 2004 with Senator Sam
Brownback, and I have personally witnessed the nightmare there with my
own eyes. Every day that passes, more men are killed, more women are
raped, and more children die of malnutrition. This is simply
unacceptable.
The people in Darfur have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their
loved ones. They have seen unspeakable horrors, carried out by the
genocidal National Islamic Front in Khartoum and their cruel
compatriots, the Janjaweed militia.
The U.S. and the international community have made strong efforts to
halt the violence in Darfur, and have provided significant levels of
humanitarian support to the victims of this genocide. However, these
efforts have largely failed to stop the NIF's desire to complete their
campaign in Darfur.
The Chinese Government's destructive role in the region is partly to
blame for the continuing violence in Darfur. A recent Amnesty
International report showed that China is making the conflict worse by
providing weapons to the Sudanese Government to carry out the genocide
in Darfur.
When President Hu visited Khartoum in February, instead of using his
influence to persuade Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to stop the
violence in Darfur, he promised to build Bashir a brand new palace.
When President Hu appointed a new special envoy to Darfur, the envoy
came back from the region claiming that the ``final solution'' for
Darfur lies with removing ``mistrust'' between the Sudanese Government
and the United States. He said the violence in Darfur is limited to
sporadic conflicts along the border with Chad.
China has used its veto power on the U.N. Security Council to
repeatedly obstruct efforts by the U.S. and the U.K. to introduce
peacekeepers to curtail the slaughter. Beijing is uniquely positioned
to put a stop to the slaughter, yet they have so far been unabashed in
their refusal to do so.
China, which is a major business partner of Sudan, should be using
its influence with the Sudanese Government to bring an end to the
violence in Darfur. China's role in extracting oil from Sudan and
maintaining close business relations with this genocidal regime are
clearly more important to the Chinese Government than saving human
lives.
This resolution calls on the Chinese Government to use its influence
to stop the violence in Darfur. It urges China to push the Sudanese
Government to accept a hybrid peacekeeping force, to disarm the
Janjaweed militia, and to join the international community in imposing
economic sanctions on Sudan if the government continues to support
attacks on civilians.
I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this resolution. A
critical part of our efforts on Darfur is pressing the Chinese
Government to stop supporting the genocide there. China must begin
playing a constructive role in the region.
Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 422 to
call on the People's Republic of China to use its unique influence and
economic leverage to halt the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of
Sudan.
As hundreds of thousands have died at the hands of government-backed
militias in Darfur, China, and Sudan have cultivated a mutually
beneficial relationship that provides crucial energy resources to China
in return for thwarting international efforts to sanction the Khartoum
government and deploy a United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur.
China and Sudan have extensive economic, political, and military
ties. China is Sudan's largest foreign investor and purchases two-
thirds of Sudanese oil exports. China has sold arms to the Sudanese
military and in February cancelled $80 million in Sudanese debt.
[[Page H5963]]
While it can do much more, China has taken some steps to alleviate
the suffering in Darfur. Last November, China helped negotiate the
agreement at Addis Abba which called for the deployment of a joint
United Nations/African Union peacekeeping force. In May, China
appointed a Special Envoy to Sudan and pledged $5.1 million in
humanitarian aid to Darfur. Yet these positive steps are far outweighed
by China's continuing support for the genocidal regime in Khartoum.
Unless China acts to pressure the Khartoum government into accepting
a U.N. peacekeeping force, China risks having the 2008 Beijing Olympics
forever known as the genocide Olympics. China must condemn the violence
taking place in Darfur, halt all military arms sales to Sudan, and
suspend economic ties to Sudan until the Government of Sudan stops
attacking civilians, complies with U.N. Security Council resolutions,
and enters into peace negotiations with rebel groups.
As China rises as a power in the 21st century, it must realize that
with its increased power comes a greater responsibility to take action
to stop genocide.
Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for H. Res.
422, which calls on the Government of the People's Republic of China to
use its unique influence and economic leverage to stop the genocide and
violence in Darfur.
The world must be united in its call for an end to genocide. As China
seeks to enter onto the world stage as a global economic and diplomatic
power, the government must assume the responsibility, as well as the
benefits that accompany this distinction.
China must use its close economic and military ties and advise the
Sudanese government that genocide is very bad for business. Congress
and the world are watching. It is imperative that China uses its power
in a responsible manner and help bring a change to this troubled
region.
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 422.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
____________________