China denies report on military aid

China on Wednesday denied a British newspaper report that it has mobilized tens of thousands of soldiers and prisoners to protect Chinese oil interests in Sudan. The Associated Press (AP) quoted a foreign ministry statement describing the report in ‘The Sunday Telegraph’ as “absolutely ridiculous”. The newspaper reported that the Chinese were brought in by aircraft and ship to guard Sudanese oil fields in which state-owned China National Petroleum Corp is a leading partner. The report quoting Western counter-terrorism officials cited an internal document from the Sudanese military which said as many as 700,000 Chinese security personnel were available for action. “It’s a completely made-up story to defame China,” the foreign ministry statement said. It said China viewed Sudan’s 17-year civil war as an “internal” conflict and that China never interfered in the internal affairs of other countries.