China’s attempts to amass massive business interests throughout Africa have been followed by a cautious policy of staying neutral – but the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s east has prompted a rethink.

Rwanda has been under widespread criticism of fueling the conflict in the mineral-rich region and Beijing, which has strong ties with DR Congo and Rwanda, has lately added its voice to the criticism. But it is attempting to balance a diplomatic tightrope in order to keep good ties with both nations, while keeping on running its businesses – and acquiring vital minerals.

How is China’s reaction to this war different?

For many years, China has avoided taking sides in African conflicts so as not to create issues that could disrupt its large business interests. So far, it has avoided condemning African governments for backing belligerents in a conflict.

For instance, China has remained quiet regarding the chain of coups since 2020 in West Africa’s Sahel region, other than calling upon leaders to have the people’s interests in mind. Beijing has had a long-standing policy of not intervening in the internal affairs of another state.

It thus eschews suggesting conflict solutions, save for urging diplomatic or political initiative by international agencies like the UN or the African Union. Instability involving Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo surfaced again during 2021. The militant leaders are ethnically Tutsis who report they armed to defend the minority group’s rights – and because the Congolese government retracted on an earlier peace accord.

Why did China make this transition?

China’s declarations will have been triggered by UN expert reports, which have presented solid evidence of Rwanda’s backing for the M23. This is a general consensus within the UN Security Council. The issue has been ongoing long enough, and everyone knows in their hearts the general situation. There is no longer any need to be coy about it. Neither China’s embassy in London nor its mission to the UN had a response when asked why China had criticised Rwanda.

But the geopolitical significance to China of DR Congo’s famous mineral resources might have been a consideration. Conflict in eastern DR Congo has been centered in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where numerous gold mines operated by the Chinese are located.

The M23 has also taken control of territory with mines for coltan ore, which is imported in large quantities by China. The rare metal tantalum, employed in vehicles and consumer electronics ranging from television sets to mobiles, is mined from this ore, and 40% of global supplies come from DR Congo.

In December 2024, a UN expert panel stated that the M23 had illicitly smuggled coltan out of DR Congo to Rwanda. It further stated that Rwanda’s coltan exports increased by 50% from 2022 to 2023.

Though Rwanda also produces coltan within its own mines, experts estimate they were unable to explain a growth of that magnitude. As yet, nobody can tell whether China’s coltan import quantity or price was influenced.

Another mineral that China imports from DR Congo is cobalt, which is essential for the lithium battery industry. Yet China’s cobalt mining activities are focused in southern DR Congo, far from fighting areas in the east. Dozens of Chinese firms, a majority of them state-owned, are also constructing roads, telecommunications and hydropower facilities in DR Congo. But it appears that the effect on these activities has been limited up until now.

Does China give Rwanda or DR Congo military aid?

China supplies weaponry to Rwanda as well as DR Congo. Chinese armoured cars, artillery, and anti-tank missiles have been purchased by Rwanda’s military over the last twenty years, according to think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).

China deployed a military attaché to the nation for the first time in 2024. Although UN experts indicate that Rwandan forces have equipped the M23 with weapons, there is no confirmation on whether or not the rebel group has employed any Chinese weapons. The Congolese military has purchased Chinese armoured personnel carriers and unmanned aerial vehicles. They also possess Chinese tanks, which were purchased in 1976 but were still being used as recently as 2022. The drones, at least, are said to have been deployed in the battle against the M23.