BEIJING — Despite the U.S. push for strong U.N. penalties against Zimbabwe’s government, Chinese officials said Sunday they favored more talks with one of its main African allies and trading partners.
“The most pressing path pressing path now is to stabilize the situation in Zimbabwe,” Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said after meeting with the top U.S. diplomat, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. “We hope the parties concerned can engage in serious dialogue to find a proper solution,” Yang said during a news conference with Rice, repeating a position Beijing has long held.
Their talks came as Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, prepared to be sworn in for a new term Sunday in the capital, Harare, extending his nearly three decades in power. He claimed victory in a violent and widely discredited runoff election.
President Bush said Saturday his administration is working on ways to further punish Mugabe and his allies, and wants the United Nations to consider an arms embargo and travel ban on Zimbabwe government officials. The U.S. plans to introduce a resolution as early as this coming week seeking tough measures against Mugabe.
At the news conference, Rice said the situation in Zimbabwe “has deteriorated to a grave level.” African and other world leaders have condemned the runoff election held Friday; Mugabe was the only candidate after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out because of attacks that have left more than 80 dead and forced about 200,000 to flee their homes. Human rights groups said opposition supporters were targeted by brutal state-sponsored violence.
“The sham election there is likely to bring more violence,” Rice said. “We believe that it’s time for the international community to act more strongly. Frankly it makes sense to deny the government of Zimbabwe the means to use violence against its own people.” There is no international arms embargo against Zimbabwe, and China — a veto-wielding member of the Security Council — is one of Zimbabwe’s allies.
Beijing has not expressed opposition to the 84-year-old Mugabe.
Yang also confirmed reports that a Chinese shipment of arms going to Zimbabwe had returned. “At the request of the receiving party, the delivery was not completed,” he said without giving any more details.
Bush said after the runoff that Mugabe leads an “illegitimate government” that retained power only through a fraudulent election.
“The Mugabe regime held a sham election that ignored the will of the people of Zimbabwe,” Bush said.
