China’s View on Intervention
World affairs in 1994 call into question the right of foreign countries to intervene in sovereign nations’ internal issues. Amid conflicts in nations such as Bosnia, Rwanda, and Haiti, China opts for a policy to only push for intervention if both sides in the conflict want the United Nations to step in. China historically has been reluctant to intervene in other countries, with memories of imperialism by other countries fresh in our minds. It is our belief that foreign intervention should only be sent into a nation under dire circumstances. It is with this lens that we analyze and make decisions regarding the events that are occurring in Rwanda, Bosnia/ Yugoslavia, and Haiti.
Rwanda:
The People’s Republic of China, above all, wishes for states to maintain their sovereignty without interference from outside powers. China sees the current violence in Rwanda as a civil war, between the current Hutu government and the Tutsi rebels coming from service in the Ugandan army. Additionally, The People’s Republic of China desires to avoid an intervention in which one member state assumes control of the intervention process, in fear of a reversion to the state of imperialism so prevalent the past century. Keeping this in mind, the new escalation that has occurred in the nation of Rwanda demands that the UN act swiftly in order to stop further violence. It is due to these concerns that China would like to push for more UN troops to be sent to Rwanda in order to maintain the peace and help officially stop the civil war which has already consumed the nation. If there is further intervention required on behalf of the UN, China believes that we should send more peacekeeping troops to stop the immediate problems, without designating one country “leader.” While sending more peacekeeping troops is not ideal, it is a necessary evil if we are to prevent any further humanitarian violations.
Seeing compromise and negotiation as two critical points in resolving any conflict, China would rather help to mediate between the two parties instead of allowing for more violence. Therefore, we would like to increase pressure on the Tutsi and Hutu to sign off on a peace treaty. This treaty would be a massive step forward in order to prevent any more escalations in violence. If this treaty is signed off on and both sides are willing to continue negotiations, then the UN could start removing troops from Rwanda. China cannot stress enough that in order to achieve a balanced state in Rwanda the violence must end; further violence will, China believes, only lengthen the peace process. Meaningful diplomacy and mediation, with the help of outside pressure from the United Nations, will, however, result in a faster, more effective peace.
It is also essential for the UN to not take a side in this event. We must proceed with caution, trying to achieve equally represented negotiations between both groups so that a balance can be found naturally. It is important to remember that throughout history, including China’s own, heavy foreign intervention and heavy foreign influence in politics can lead to a country being exploited and ultimately to a nation collapsing into chaos.
Bosnia:
The issue of consent to intervene holds great weight in the Bosnian War as well. China supports humanitarian intervention as long as said interventions are sought by the conflicting parties. However, in some of the resolutions passed in 1992, at the start of the war, both parties currently at war did not ask for the protections that the UN wanted to bestow upon them. China voted for the actions that both parties found acceptable and believed would help the situation of their homelands. When reports of ethnic cleansing started, China changed its stance to be more open to expanding the powers of the peacekeeping force. But in terms of nationality, China will always defer to the citizens of the state, for they should not be forced to bend to larger countries’ wills based on words alone.
China now moves to send more peacekeeping troops into the region because it has become increasingly clear that the Bosnian Government is unable to protect its local citizens from the so named Yugoslav People's Army. The recent atrocities require that this action be carried out quickly in order to help the powerless citizens being affected. The UN must now begin to expand its operation in the region to become a larger humanitarian effort. China believes it is necessary to open more safe havens that can be defended by the UN. Additionally it is important that the Yugoslavian government continue the progress it made in past peace talks by taking a stand against the violence brought on by Serbian groups living in Bosnia.
Additionally, China would like to note that it has yet to determine if there is a genocide taking place in Bosnia and Herzegovina. With this being said it is also important to note that China's main goal for this and any other future peacekeeping operation in the region is to prevent a genocide.
Haiti:
While China is sympathetic to the people in Haiti we do not believe a full out intervention is necessary. By having outside governments becomes involved in the politics of Haiti it is very possible that even more popular distrust of the government would occur. Additionally, this type of operation could very quickly escalate in violence especially if UN troops were sent to oversee the process. The issues that are transpiring in Haiti are conflicts that the Haitian people need to solve on their own. The UN does not have the power to involve itself in every coup that occurs in the world. Additionally there has yet to be substantial evidence to indicate any drastic humanitarian efforts on behalf of the UN are needed or being requested.
China believes that the best step forward is to put pressure onto the current military leaders of Haiti to resume the elections of the early 1990’s which held so much promise to an ailing nation. This pressure can be achieved through select economic embargoes that China agrees with. This pressure on the government is the most effective solution to this problem and it can achieve the goal of a peaceful transition, whereas sending peacekeeping troops would not. With this being said, China would be glad to offer assistance to the newly established government if they choose to ask for it.
To conclude, the issues that are currently being discussed will require a great deal of care so that the UN does not force itself into the issues of a sovereign nation. While it is clear that humanitarian measures may be required in some of these situations, China holds steadfastly to the notion that the UN must respect the governments involved with all of these conflicts.