WASHINGTON—China faced heated criticism in the United States for inviting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to visit even though he is wanted for genocide and war crimes and is unwelcome in most of the world.
China’s foreign ministry said Thursday that President Hu Jintao and other leaders would meet Bashir on his June 27-30 visit, during which the two sides will discuss “how to consolidate our traditional friendship.”
Representative Frank Wolf, who has traveled to Sudan’s violence-torn Darfur region, said that he saw first-hand that China was supplying planes, helicopters and arms that have fueled the conflict.
“The number one supporter of the genocide in Darfur that many people are so concerned about is the Chinese government,” said Wolf, a Republican from Virginia and outspoken critic of Beijing.
“Now we find that they’re welcoming Bashir. What more do we need to know? Lives hang in the balance,” Wolf said.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur, where the United Nations says about 300,000 people have died since 2003.
“China will distinguish itself on the international scene in the most shameful of ways if Beijing welcomes Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir,” said Balkees Jarrah, international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch.
“Bashir is a fugitive from justice for heinous crimes in Darfur. Charges of widespread murder and rape should be cause for condemnation, not an invitation,” she said.
Bashir is the first sitting head of state to be targeted by a warrant of the ICC, which means that any member country of the court is obliged to arrest Bashir if he visits. China, along with the United States, is not party.
A number of nations have refused visits by Bashir after pressure from human rights groups.
Bashir has canceled plans to attend a weekend summit in Malaysia, which declared earlier this year that it intends to recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction to show its commitment to fight crimes against humanity.