Congress pressures China on Darfur as Olympics near

(05-17) 04:00 PST Washington -- China's carefully planned coming-out party as a world superpower at the 2008 Summer Olympics could be clouded by Beijing's close ties with the Sudanese government and its failure to halt the genocide in Darfur.

Congress is increasing the pressure on the Chinese government to end arms shipments to the region and use its leverage as Sudan's top investor and trading partner to resolve a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and left millions more displaced.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House and Senate introduced resolutions Wednesday urging China to pressure the regime in Khartoum to allow peacekeeping troops into Darfur and comply with U.N. resolutions. If the killing of civilians continues, the measures call on China to join other nations in supporting sanctions against Sudan.

"It's very important that we ask China, finally, to join the world community and acknowledge that genocide is taking place," said Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, a co-sponsor of the House resolution, who has visited the region three times and urged a tougher response. "With the Olympics coming, China is now in the international spotlight. ... They need to, in many ways, stop supporting the genocide that is taking place in Darfur."

While Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for "a dialogue" to end the conflict in Darfur, China's investments have provided a lifeline that has kept the Sudanese regime afloat.

China buys more than 400,000 barrels of oil a day from Sudan -- more than 70 percent of the country's exports -- and helped build an oil pipeline. China has also reportedly canceled $100 million in debt owed by the Khartoum government and offered $20 million in no-interest loans to erect a new presidential palace.

China also has used its veto at the U.N. Security Council to block efforts to impose sanctions on Sudan. An Amnesty International report said China and Russia were supplying weapons to the Arab militias, backed by President Omar el-Bashir's government, which have carried out the attacks in Darfur.

China's close ties with Sudan present a major public relations problem for Beijing. With the Olympic Games little more than a year away, some activists are urging a boycott of the Games if China doesn't help end the bloodshed.

Top Chinese diplomats, including Ambassador to the United States Zhou Wenzhong, have been meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, especially members of the Congressional Black Caucus, which has been active on the issue.

Chinese officials also have been talking to groups such as the Save Darfur coalition, stressing Beijing's diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. At the meetings, they have urged U.S. lawmakers and activists to view Darfur and the Olympics as separate issues.

But Allyn Brooks-LaSure, a spokesman for the Save Darfur coalition, said China may have a tough time asking the international community to disconnect the two issues.

"If hosting the Olympics is your debutante ball, you can't afford to have people pointing out the spot on your gown," he said. "China is in an incredible position of influence. They are Sudan's leading supporter and defender in the international community. They are their leading trade partner and one of the leading consumers of Sudan's oil. ... With that comes influence, leverage and a direct line to the Khartoum leadership."

Earlier this month, more than 100 House lawmakers sent a letter to Hu demanding that China do more to persuade Sudan's leaders to rein in the militias. The letter was signed by top Democrats, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, is supportive of the new House resolution, a spokesman said. Sponsored by Lee and Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., the nonbinding measure calls on China to cease arms sales and says Beijing "should be held accountable to act consistently with the Olympic standard of preserving human dignity."

A Chinese Embassy spokesman would not respond Wednesday to a request for comment. But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said at a press conference earlier this month that China is providing humanitarian assistance to refugees in Darfur and recently named a special envoy to Africa to help with diplomacy.

E-mail Zachary Coile at zcoile@sfchronicle.com.