With Chinese Violations of Darfur Arms Embargo, What Does "One World, One Dream" Mean?

For many of us the culpability of China in the genocide in Darfur has never been a question. We know that, through its purchase of Sudanese oil, China is responsible for providing 70 percent of Sudan's GDP. Despite the pressure put on China by the international community, it has used its prerogative as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to provide cover for the Sudanese government's inaction and recalcitrance. All along, the Chinese government has claimed that the sovereignty of a nation state takes precedence over accusations of human-rights violations.

Although it is clear to the average person that China's support and protection is linked to the conflict in Darfur, China has been able to hide behind a veil of politics, diplomacy, and denial.

No more. Evidence by way of a July 13 article published by the BBC came to light last week, revealing that China had provided weapons -- actual material weapons -- to the government of Sudan since the 2005 arms embargo. China responded that the evidence the BBC uncovered did not amount to proof that it had violated the embargo, still it did not deny having provided weapons.

Why would China violate the embargo? The country is busy preparing for "One World, One Dream," its Olympian entrance onto the world stage.

One world, one dream. What does that mean to the people who were attacked in February by two Chinese Fantan fighter jets flying missions out of Nyala airport in south Darfur? The BBC confirmed that these planes unleashed two bombs.

One world: Kaltam, a mother of seven, watched her 5-year-old daughter die in the attack, dismembered from the chest up. Since the bombing, another survivor, Kaltam's 13-year-old daughter, Hawa, rarely speaks.

I wonder what she is dreaming of...