China's policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of African countries has come under growing strain as its economic interests in the continent have multiplied. Its approach, which has drawn criticism from many in the West who see it as having a negative impact on efforts to improve governance in Africa, has faced a particular challenge in Sudan, an important supplier of oil to China, where tensions between the north and south of the country culminated in January with the south voting overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum. China has indicated that it will respect the will of the region's people. However, the issue is likely to create complications for China, as many of the oil resources that it helps to exploit in Sudan are in the south of the country.

Elsewhere on the continent, rumblings of opposition to China continue. In Zambia, around a dozen workers were injured when fired on by two Chinese mine managers in October, leading to the jailing of the managers in January pending trial on 12 counts of attempted murder. The Chinese government said that the shootings were a "mistake". In neighbouring Zimbabwe, government ministers have indicated that the Chinese are set to invest up to US$10bn, although many doubt whether such a large sum will actually materialise. There have been complaints in the Zimbabwean media recently complained over a deal whereby China would secure platinum reserves in the country for US$3bn. The reports claimed that the reserves were worth US$40bn, although the value of mineral reserves can often be hard to determine. Zimbabwe's finance minister, Tendai Biti, recently indicated his opposition to the deal.