Jack Lau
World Unit of China, BBC World Service
Getty images
The M23 rebels supported by Rwandans have taken control of two major cities in eastern Dr. Congo in the past two months
The efforts of China to develop enormous commercial interests through Africa have been accompanied by a prudent policy of maintaining neutrality – but the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo caused a change in its approach.
Rwanda has been largely accused of stoké in the region rich in minerals and Beijing, which has close relations with Dr. Congo and Rwanda, has joined in recent weeks.
But he tries to browse a diplomatic striking rope to maintain good relations with the two countries, while continuing to exploit his businesses – and to buy crucial minerals.
How is China’s response to this conflict different?
For decades, China has taken care not to take sides in conflicts in Africa, to avoid causing problems that could interfere with its extensive commercial interests.
So far, he has avoided criticizing African governments for supporting participants in a conflict.
For example, China has spoke of the series of coups since 2020 in the West African region of Africa, except to urge leaders to consider the interests of the people.
Beijing has long pursued a policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of another state, said Professor Zhou Yuyuan, specializing in African development and security at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS).
It therefore avoids proposing solutions to conflicts, in addition to calling diplomatic or political efforts by international organizations such as the UN or the African Union.
The disorders involving Rwandan M23 rebels in eastern Dr. Congo raised their heads again in 2021. The fighters are led by ethnic Tutsis who say they took up arms to protect the rights of the minority group – and because the Congolese authorities have denied a previous peace agreement.
In its first comments on these developments, China has limited itself to criticizing the “foreign forces” without name for having provided support to M23 fighters.
But in recent weeks, he has broken his usual practice and has referred to Rwanda by name.
This follows major M23 gains, which since January has captured the key cities of Goma and Bukavu.
“China reiterates its hope that Rwanda will … stop its military support at M23 and immediately withdraw all its military forces from the DRC territory,” said the UN ambassador to China in February.
Professor Zhou notes that although significant, the “wording in general is still relatively soft”.
“China” hoped “that Rwanda would stop its support but did not condemn it,” he said.
However, shortly after, China has supported a resolution of the United Nations Security Council which frankly calls for Rwanda’s defense forces to “cease the support of the M23 and immediately withdraw from the territory of the DRC without precondition”.
Why did China have made this change?
According to Professor Zhou, China’s statements will probably have been caused by UN expert reports, which have provided solid evidence of Rwanda support per m23.
“This is a basic consensus to the United Nations Security Council,” he added.
“The problem has gone quite a long time, and everyone knows the basic situation in their hearts. There is no need to be silent.”
Neither the mission of China at the UN nor its embassy in London replied when it was asked why China criticized Rwanda.
But the crucial importance for the renowned mineral wealth of Dr. Congo China may have been a factor.
Fighting in eastern Dr. Congo were concentrated in the provinces of northern Kivu and South Kivu, which houses many gold mines managed by Chinese.
The way these mines have been affected by the fighting is so far clear.
The M23 also seized a territory containing mines for Coltan ore, which China largely imports.
The metal tantalum, used in cars and everyday electronics, televisions on mobile phones, is extracted from this ore, and Dr. Congo is the 40% source of world supply.
A group of United Nations experts declared in December 2024 that the M23 had chosen COLTAN in Rwanda of Dr. Congo. He also noted that exports from the Coltan du Rwanda increased by 50% between 2022 and 2023.
Although Rwanda has its own Coltan mines, analysts say they could explain such a significant increase in production.
It is not yet clear if the volume or price of the Coltan imported by China has been affected.
Another mineral that China imports from Dr Congo is Cobalt, which is crucial for the lithium battery industry.
However, cobalt extraction operations in China are mainly based in southern Dr Congo, far from conflict zones in the East.
Dozens of Chinese companies, many of whom belong to the state, also build roads, telecommunications and hydroelectric installations in Dr Congo. But it seems that the impact on these activities has so far been minimal.
Does China provide military support in Rwanda or Dr Congo?
China provides weapons in Rwanda and Dr Congo.
Over the past two decades, the Rwandan army has bought Chinese armored vehicles, artillery and anti-tank missiles, according to Think-Tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
China posted a military attaché to the country for the first time in 2024.
While UN experts say that the Rwandan army armed the M23, it is not clear if the rebel group uses Chinese weapons.
The Congolese armed forces bought carriers of troops of Chinese armored personnel and drones.
They also have Chinese tanks, which were bought in 1976 but were still used as recently as 2022.
It is reported that the drones, at least, were used in the fight against the M23.
Have China’s relations with one or the other country been affected?
The Rwandan Embassy of Beijing said that links with China remained “excellent and productive”, and it was not for Rwanda to comment on the China Declaration on fights in eastern Dr. Congo.
The Chinese ambassador to Dr. Congo, Zhao Bin, had discussions with the president of the Congolese Sama Lukonde in early February, but no details of the meeting were made public.
China’s economic activities in the two countries go very deeply. They are both part of the Chinese belt and road initiative, designed to sew China closer to the world thanks to investment and infrastructure projects.
In Rwanda, China has financed stadiums, schools and highways. Chinese loans also finance infrastructure projects – a loan to finance a dam and an irrigation system, of an estimated value of $ 40 million (31 million pounds Sterling), was confirmed in January.
For years, most of the goods imported in Rwanda came from China.
Regarding China’s economic ties with Dr. Congo, the United Nations Database for Comtrade shows that for years China is the best trading partner in Dr Congo.
China has made great efforts to guarantee access to the mineral wealth of Dr Congo.
He extended $ 3.2 billion (2.5 billion pounds Sterling) for loans in the country between 2005 and 2022, according to the Chinese Loans to Africa database led by the University of Boston, mainly to finance the construction of road and bridges, and the country’s electricity network.
China has funded and built other large -scale infrastructure projects in Dr Congo, including hydroelectric power plants and a dry port.
These investments can suggest that it is in the long -term interests of China to quickly find a conflict resolution.
More stories about Dr Congo Conflict: Getty Images / BBC
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