Asharq Al Awsat: in a diplomatic initiative, the first of its kind since the outbreak of the Sahara dispute, China expressed its willingness «to play a positive role for the settlement of the Sahara issue hoping an appropriate solution to this issue will be achieved through dialogue and consultations within the framework of the United Nations».
According to a statement published yesterday by the Moroccan news agency, Chinese Prime Minister, Wan Jiabao, said, follwing talks in Beijing with his Moroccan counterpart Driss Jettou, that his country appreciates the efforts made by Morocco in order to find a settlement to the Sahara issue through peaceful means. The official stressed that Beijing seeks to reinforce political trust with Morocco and expand cooperation in the fields of farming, fishing and professional training.
Not siding with any party to the dispute, knowing that the solution lies in the hands of Algeria and Morocco, Beijing provided no political support and did not show sympathy to Polisario, even if the latter backed Marxist slogans and People's Liberation War, such items are present in the Chinese political lexicon. China’s prevention from becoming involved in regional conflicts fuelled by international parties, with odd purposes, is in line with the political approach that it has always adopted towards the major international crises.
It was not able to disclose the clear support to Morocco, in order not to anger the eastern neighbor Algeria which has good relations with Beijing, knowing that China believes itself to be closer to Morocco as it is claiming the restoration of part of its territory based in the so-called « National Republic of China ». Therefore, Morocco was aware of the depth of China’s situation, and showed on various occasions its full support to Beijing and its historical and geographical right to restore the remnants retained by the pro-Western regime in Taiwan in the wake of the People's Liberation War, under the Communist Party leader Mao tse Tong. Rabat has not abandoned its support, even if it angered Washington, Taiwan’s ally.
There was a significant transformation in China's position on the issue of territorial unity of Morocco during the visit of the Chinese President to Morocco last year where he held talks with the Presidents of the House of Representatives and counsellors Abdel Wahid Radi and Mustafa Okacha. He also met Khalihenna Ould Errachid the newly appointed chairman of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs.
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue / Corcas