Letter to Barack Obama, President of the United States - Discussing Sudan on China Trip

Letter

More than 40 members of Congress today asked President Obama to ensure that Sudan be discussed during his upcoming trip to China, pointing out China is a major arms supplier and source of economic strength to the regime in Khartoum and has a vital role to play in any ultimate resolution of the multiple crises in Sudan.

In a letter spearheaded by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA), 44 House members wrote that the upcoming trip "will be among the first tests of the administration's commitment to fully and faithfully execute the Sudan policy that Secretary Clinton outlined and you endorsed on October 19."

"Failure to exert sufficient public pressure on China regarding its relationship with Khartoum will send a signal to the rest of the world that the United States places other interests ahead of achieving peace in Sudan," the letter said. "If that happens, the talk of an American-led multilateral effort to bring peace and justice to this war-ravaged land will have been mere words."

The complete text of the letter and its signatories is below. A PDF of the letter is available at wolf.house.gov.

November 13, 2009

The Honorable Barack H. Obama
The President
The White House
Washington DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We are pleased that the administration has released its long-awaited comprehensive Sudan policy. We believe the strategy, properly and fully implemented, provides a strong framework to achieve our shared goal of a stable, democratic, and peaceful Sudan.

The strategy document spoke at length about the need for international cooperation in order to create meaningful incentives and pressures to use when negotiating with the Government of Sudan and other relevant actors. To quote from the document, "American leadership is essential to a more effective multilateral approach." We could not agree more.

As you prepare to visit China, we strongly urge you to make Sudan a priority in your bilateral discussions. As you are well aware, China is a major arms supplier and source of economic strength to the regime in Khartoum, and has a vital role to play in any ultimate resolution of the multiple crises in Sudan.

Many of us have previously asked you to make Sudan a priority in the U.S.-China relationship; however, your upcoming trip will be among the first tests of the administration's commitment to fully and faithfully execute the Sudan policy that Secretary Clinton outlined and you endorsed on October 19. Failure to exert sufficient public pressure on China regarding its relationship with Khartoum will send a signal to the rest of the world that the United States places other interests ahead of achieving peace in Sudan. If that happens, the talk of an American-led multilateral effort to bring peace and justice to this war-ravaged land will have been mere words.

Therefore, we ask that in your meeting with President Hu Jintao and other Chinese officials, Sudan feature prominently on the agenda. We ask also that you push for the Government of China to exert influence over Sudan to end its attacks in Darfur, faithfully implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with South Sudan, prepare for free and fair elections, and make a renewed commitment to the ongoing peace process. Furthermore, China must be reminded of its obligations to cease any actions that actually contribute to the violence, namely the provision of weapons and technology which have aided the genocide in Darfur. A joint bilateral plan to address the crisis in Sudan referenced in the joint communiqué issued after your meetings in China would be a welcome signal of the administration's commitment to building the international coalition that is so sorely needed.

We look forward to continuing to work with you in the months ahead to create the conditions for a comprehensive, peaceful solution to the challenges in Sudan.

Sincerely,

Rep. Frank Wolf
Rep. Michael Capuano
Rep. Michael McCaul
Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao
Rep. Heath Shuler
Rep. John Conyers
Rep. Bob Inglis
Rep. Maurice Hinchey
Rep. Maxine Waters
Rep. Chris Smith
Rep. James McGovern
Rep. Charles Wilson
Rep. Melvin Watt
Rep. Gwen Moore
Rep. Bob Filner
Rep. James Oberstar
Rep. Jerry Moran
Rep. Steve Driehaus
Rep. Michael Michaud
Rep. John Boozman
Rep. Mike Thompson
Rep. Peter Visclosky
Rep. Janice Schakowsky
Rep. Kathleen Dahlkemper
Rep. Stephen Lynch
Rep. Peter Welch
Rep. Vernon Ehlers
Rep. Bill Pascrell
Rep. Adam Schiff
Rep. George Miller
Rep. Barney Frank
Rep. Jerry Costello
Rep. Peter DeFazio
Rep. Michael Doyle
Rep. William Lacy Clay
Rep. Steven Rothman
Rep. Trent Franks
Rep. Bob Goodlatte
Rep. Christopher Murphy
Rep. John Yarmuth
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter
Rep. Rosa DeLauro
Rep. Anna Eshoo
Rep. Leonard Lance