China sends peacekeepers to Darfur

China is sending 350 military engineers to Darfur next month as the vanguard of the so-called hybrid force of United Nations and African Union soldiers Beijing has been criticized for not using its economic ties with Sudan to secure peace in the devastated region where an estimated 200 000 people have died from the combined effects of war and famine But China is out to show that it has a powerful — and unique — role to play in the resolution of the four-year conflict An AFPTV voiced report