China’s permanent representative to the United Nations demanded that Rwanda stop interfering in the affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and force the M23 rebel group to leave the country. This is an unprecedented move by Chinese diplomacy. Previously, she tried not to take sides in regional conflicts. Especially if they involve developing countries, of which China considers itself the leader. The media in the West and in India write that China has changed its position because Chinese companies extract minerals in the DRC.
The Indian portal First Post reports that China has explicitly stated: “Rwanda must withdraw its troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and stop supporting the rebels in this state.” Beijing has issued such an appeal twice this year. His permanent representative to the UN, Fu Kun, called on Rwanda to take into account the position of the international community and refuse to provide military assistance to the M23 rebels, who seized part of the territory of the DRC. As a result, a humanitarian crisis has begun there.
China also voted in favor of a UN Security Council resolution condemning Rwanda for interfering in the affairs of a neighboring country. It was a rare move by the PRC, which usually abstains from voting in cases where an ally or close partner is involved in a dispute. China has argued that its policy does not allow for involvement in conflicts between African States. But this time, according to the Indian commentator, the underlying reason for China’s moves is not principles, but a desire to protect billions of dollars in investments in the extraction of mineral resources in the DRC.
We are talking, in particular, about mines where deposits of coltan ore have been developed. This is an important raw material used in the manufacture of smartphones, laptops, and medical equipment. 80% of the deposits are located in Africa, mainly in the DRC.
The Guardian gives a similar version of events. According to the British newspaper, China followed a cautious line and tried to show itself neutral. However, the fighting in the east of the DRC forced a review of the policy. Rwanda has been criticized before for adding fuel to the conflict. And China has joined the chorus of critics. But he seems to be walking a tight diplomatic tightrope, trying to maintain close ties with both parties to the dispute. For many years, China has tried to maintain the image of a neutral power. For example, since 2020, she has been silent about a whole chain of coups in the Sahel region. The only comment from the PRC representatives was a call for governments to take care of the people. And the UN or the African Union should have been the body to settle the bloodshed.
The conflict in the eastern part of the DRC resumed in 2021. However, it is not easy to understand its nuances. The militant leaders belong to the Tutsi ethnic group, and they say they are defending the rights of minorities with weapons. Another argument is that the DRC government is not complying with the peace agreement concluded earlier.
China most likely condemned Rwanda as a result of the fact that the UN experts gave an opinion confirming its guilt. There is no doubt about it. But the fact is also that the conflict broke out in the provinces of North and South Kivu, where there are numerous gold mines run by the Chinese. And the M23 group has established control over the areas where coltan ore is mined, which China imports on a large scale. In December 2024, UN experts announced that the M23 group was smuggling coltan into Rwanda. From 2022 to 2023, its exports from Rwanda increased by 50%.
Another raw material that China buys from the DRC is cobalt. But these mines are located in the south of the country, far from the places where there are clashes. Dozens of Chinese companies are laying roads, telecommunications networks and creating hydropower facilities in the DRC.
At first glance, China has made a bet on the DRC. But he maintains military ties with both sides of the conflict. He has been supplying them with weapons, and to Rwanda for 20 years. It bought Chinese armored vehicles, artillery pieces and anti-tank missiles. However, it is not known whether Rwanda supplied the rebels with Chinese weapons. And the Congolese army has Chinese infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, and unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicles. It was also reported that the DRC army used Chinese drones in the battles with the rebels.
In an interview with NG, Alexander Lukin, scientific director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted: “China is trying not to interfere in conflicts between developing countries. In principle, China has good relations with all of them. China positions itself as the leader of the global South. And both of these countries belong to this category. But in this case, it is confirmed that Rwanda has sent soldiers to a neighboring country. The DRC is much larger in territory and population than Rwanda, but it is poorly governed. Chinese businesses are well represented in the DRC. After weighing all these factors, Beijing decided to support the DRC. However, it is not only economic interests that are affected here. China has always opposed the violation of the territorial integrity of States.”
On the other hand, the DRC ranks among the first in Africa in terms of investment from China. “Analyzing the current events in the DRC, we must not lose sight of the balance of power on this continent. In many countries, China has become the main investor. But it’s not just about money. Africans remember that China supported their anti–colonial movement,” the expert emphasized.
