Reply #24: Gaddafi arms dealings hit China's image badly

[pinboy3niner]

Source: New Straits Times (Malaysia)

2011/09/21
By Frank Ching


THE news that officials of Muammar Gaddafi's regime held secret talks in Beijing to buy weapons in July -- five months after the Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Libya -- is deeply embarrassing for China and casts doubt on its sincerity regarding honouring United Nations sanctions resolutions for which it voted.

...


China's credibility on sanctions enforcement was already poor before the latest Libyan disclosures. Months ago, Beijing fought not to be named in a UN report on its failure to intercept suspected shipments of North Korean ballistic missile items and so was identified only as "a neighbouring third country".

But such arm-twisting can only go so far. Already, Washington has called on China to clarify "what did and didn't transpire" at the meetings with Gaddafi representatives.

Until China cleans up its act, it will not be accorded the respect that it desires, despite its fast-growing economy and increasing military reach.


http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/17regime/Article/index_html