While the whole western block and certain African states are accusing China of fuelling the conflict in Darfur, the first military contingent from that country has arrived in Sudan for a peace keeping mission.

Not surprisingly, rebel groups immediately announced that they would target them as their government has already chosen its side.

I am saying that Chinese are smart because, like western powers, they have learned how to preserve their overseas strategic interests. The US is diplomatically and militarily omnipresent in the Gulf while the French have strongly established military bases in Gabon, and Chad.

Sudan, with its oil reserves and strategic position between the Middle East and Africa, offers China an ideal opportunity both for business and geo-political reasons.