From Tunisia to Egypt and then Libya, the upheaval in Africa recently seemed to have no end. The upheaval also spread beyond Africa to the Middle East, Central and South Asia. This is reminiscent of the upheaval in the former Soviet Union and the collapse of other Eastern European countries in the 1980s and 1990s. They were the result of various social conflicts compounded by domestic and foreign factors. What should China do?

Since unrest first began in Africa, the Chinese government has taken immediate actions to spare no effort in evacuating Chinese citizens, earning international praise. But evacuation is not enough; China should implement other diplomatic strategies to protect its image and interests in Africa.

The stability strategy. China should observe events calmly and hold its ground. The situation in Africa is very complicated and cannot easily be resolved, so it is not the right time to judge which side is right or wrong. Unilateral intervention will only make conditions worse. Hegemony should also be avoided.

The mediation strategy. As a third-part country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China should promote peace. International organizations should always try to guide conflicting parties to solve problems peacefully through negotiation and dialogue. When situations begin to threaten innocent civilians, they should take immediate actions to protect human rights. In short, China should do everything it can to help ease tension and prevent conflicts from getting worse.

The right strategy. China has significant interests in Africa. While it will never intervene in any country's internal affairs or become involved in any party's political disputes, China has to protect its own rights and interests. It has the right to maintain close contacts with all parties and take a stand and blame the transgressors on affairs related to China.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.h5a3.com/opinion/node_7075406.htm

(The post was written in Chinese and translated by Lin Liyao.)

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