Business as Usual Between China and Sudan

BEIJING, China, Oct. 30, 2008— -- Chinese authorities are shocked and angered by the killing of their oil workers in Sudan, but they also made it clear that the incident will not deter China from investing in the oil-producing African country.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Tuesday described the incident as "one of the most serious killing cases of overseas Chinese workers in recent years."

According to China's state media, the Chinese minister condemned the "inhumane terrorist act" by kidnappers in a phone call to his Sudanese counterpart and urged the Sudanese government to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel in the country.

There was initial confusion on the number of Chinese victims. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson told reporters Tuesday that five out of nine Chinese hostages were killed Monday, but the Chinese foreign ministry later revised the figure to four hostages killed, attributing the discrepancy to reports from Sudanese authorities.

A Sudanese Foreign Ministry official later told reporters in Khartoum that three of the Chinese workers were confirmed dead and three others were injured and receiving medical care. Three more remain missing. So far, Sudanese authorities have recovered the bodies of three slain Chinese.

Chinese officials and scholars said this unfortunate episode will not adversely affect China's economic ties with Sudan or other African countries. Foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said China will continue with its investments and loans to Sudan because these were "mutually beneficial."

Shu Yunguo, the director of Shanghai Normal University's Center for African Studies, told ABC News, "this kidnapping case will not have any major impact on China's policy towards Sudan or Africa."

But the death of the Chinese oil workers highlighted the human price China pays for its search for oil and raw materials in Africa and other parts of the globe to supply its new factories at home.