China denies supplying arms for use in Darfur

China today said its arms sales to Africa violated no international law, rejecting claims by Amnesty International that Beijing was supplying arms to Sudan for use in the strife-torn Darfur region.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Chinese sales to African nations were very limited and small in scale, but refused to say specifically how much was sold to Sudan.

London-based Amnesty International said Chinese-made arms were being used in Darfur and in neighbouring Chad in violation of a UN embargo.

The report said Russia was also supplying arms that are ending up in the hands of the government-backed janjaweed militia.

Arab militia have been blamed for widespread rapes and killings of Darfur civilians.

“The irresponsible transfer of arms to Sudan and its neighbours are a significant factor in the massive human rights catastrophe in Darfur and its spread into eastern Chad,” a statement from the rights group said.

It said Amnesty “is deeply dismayed” that China and Russia are allowing ongoing flows of arms ... to Sudan that are diverted for the conflict in Darfur and in Chad.