(1)   Can he confirm reports that (a) China is the largest supplier of arms to Sudan, including assault helicopters, armoured vehicles, trucks and small arms and (b) Sudan continues to use these arms to attack civilian villages in the Darfur region.

(2)   Can he confirm reports that Chinese oil companies, such as the China National Petroleum Corporation, allow their airfields in Sudan to be used by Sudanese government forces in launching air attacks on villages in Sudan.

(3)   Can he confirm that China has consistently obstructed all efforts at the United Nations to impose sanctions on Sudan and all other efforts to stop the Sudanese regime’s campaign of genocide in Darfur, which has so far cost an estimated 450,000 lives.

(4)   What is the Government’s position on the reported actions of the Chinese government in respect of Sudan.

(5)   What steps has he taken to convey his Government’s views to the Chinese Government.

(6)   What actions has Australia taken at the United Nations, and elsewhere, to bring to an end the genocidal campaign of the Sudanese regime in Darfur.

(1)   I am aware of the reports, but cannot confirm the details. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, from 1995 to 2005 most of Sudan’s military arsenal came from Russia and not China. Nevertheless, China is a major arms exporter, and it is widely understood that China is the source, either directly or indirectly, of many of the weapons and other items of equipment employed in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

(2)   I am aware of the reports, but cannot confirm them.

(3)   China has resisted efforts to apply international pressure on the Government of Sudan. But China has allowed the passage of a number of United Nations Security Council resolutions addressing the situation in Darfur by not exercising its veto power.

(4)   The Government is very concerned about the situation in Darfur. We would be disturbed by any activities which exacerbated the situation.

(5)   China is well aware of Australia’s views. The Australian Government is a strong advocate of responsible arms exports, including exports with assurances about the end-user and purpose for the export, and has regular exchanges with China on these issues through our bilateral arms control and regional security dialogue. Australia also conducts outreach activities with China on a range of arms control issues, including through the Wassenar Arrangement and the Australia group.

(6)   Australia is not a member of the United Nations Security Council but we did call for, and have supported, strong Security Council action on Darfur. Australia was active in ensuring the Security Council, through Resolution 1591 of 29 March 2005, implemented an arms embargo in Darfur, established a no-fly zone over Darfur and imposed travel bans and asset freezes on individuals who impede the peace process or commit crimes or atrocities. Australia also supported the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1593 of 31 March 2005 which referred crimes committed in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC), of which Australia was a key proponent. UN Security Council Resolution 1672 of 25 April 2006 imposed financial and travel sanctions on four individuals because of their activities in Darfur. One of those four is a Regional Commander in the Sudanese Air Force. Australia is in the process of implementing these sanctions against those four individuals. The Government welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1706 of 31 August 2006 calling for the transition of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to a United Nations force by no later than 31 December 2006. We call on the Government of Sudan (GoS) to accept United Nations peacekeepers in Darfur and we call on the international community to urge the GoS to accept the transition of AMIS to a United Nations force.