Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 27 January 2017

As new era begins: China releases a new list of items
Gambia’s new president returns to his nation banned for export to North Korea

C. BODEEN
CARLEY PETESCH years, but now enough is Gambia and Senegal and
Associated Press enough,” said Seedia Bad- at the port and airport, ac- Associated Press
BANJUL, Gambia (AP) — jie, 37. cording to Sweden’s U.N. BEIJING (AP) — China has released a new list of items
Gambia’s President Ada- Barrow defeated Jammeh Ambassador Olof Skoog, banned for export to North Korea, ranging from wind
ma Barrow finally returned in December elections, but the current U.N. Security tunnels to plutonium, following a new round of United
home Thursday, solidifying the veteran leader did not Council president. Nations sanctions and complaints from U.S. President
his position as this coun- want to cede power. The Barrow has asked the Donald Trump that Beijing was not doing enough to
try’s first new commander international community, troops to stay for six months pressure its communist neighbor.
in chief in two decades af- alarmed by Jammeh’s un- to provide security, said The step was seen by one leading expert on North Ko-
ter a political crisis that sent predictability and claims Mohamed Ibn Chambas, rea as an attempt to show that China is fully meeting
the previous ruler into exile. that included a bananas- special representative of its commitments, and to pre-empt any moves by the
Hundreds of people lined and-herbal-rub “cure” for the U.N. secretary-general U.S. to punish Chinese companies that deal with the
the road to the airport AIDS, threw its support be- and head of the U.N. Of- North. However, the expert questioned whether the
ahead of his arrival, while hind Barrow, a 51-year-old fice for West Africa and the ban would have much effect in slowing a North Ko-
rean nuclear weapons program that is already well ad-
vanced and gathering momentum.
A statement from the Chinese Commerce Ministry late
Wednesday said the items included dual-use technolo-
gies that could aid the North’s programs to develop
nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as well as
the missiles to deliver them.
While largely comprising specialty chemicals and rare
alloys, the list also includes computer software, machin-
ery, high-speed cameras, aerospace engines and six-
axle truck chassis. Grinding machines, molds and radio
transmitting equipment also joined plutonium and wind
tunnels among the banned items.
The ban on “dual-use measures related to weapons of
mass destruction and their means of delivery” takes ef-
fect immediately, the announcement said.
There was no evidence that the extensive list of items
was prompted by anything other than the U.N. Security
Council resolution passed in November in response to
the North’s missile test in September.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Thurs-
day said sanctions should be “implemented in an all-
round and balanced way” and China was merely
Gambian President Adama Barrow greets the crowds after arriving at Banjul airport in Gambia, meeting its obligations.
Thursday Jan. 26, 2017, after flying in from Dakar, Senegal. Gambia’s new president has finally However, the official Communist Party newspaper
arrived in the country, a week after taking the oath of office abroad amid a whirlwind political Global Times suggested the timing had to do with the
crisis. Here’s a look at the tumble of events that led to Adama Barrow’s return — and the exile of upcoming weeklong Lunar New Year holiday, a period
the country’s longtime leader.
(AP Photo/Jerome Delay) during which North Korea last year staged a missile test
and in 2013 held its third underground nuclear test.
The announcement “is also a warning for the North Ko-
boys on top of packed businessman. Sahel.
minibuses played drums Barrow was sworn into of- Gambia, with nearly 1.9 rean side not to conduct another round of nuclear test-
on empty gas canisters fice on Jan. 19 at the Gam- million people, has be- ing during China’s Spring Festival this year,” it quoted
and women danced in bian Embassy in neighbor- come an example in West Yanbian University expert Jin Qiangyi as saying, using
joy. Hundreds more gath- ing Senegal because of se- Africa as the region strives another term for the Lunar New Year.
ered at the airport, where curity threats as the stand- for stable, democratic China is North Korea’s largest source of trade and aid,
Barrow emerged from the off continued. changes of power. The but has grown increasingly frustrated by its defiance
plane in a flowing white Jammeh finally left Gambia world watched as Gam- of U.N. demands that it end missile tests and develop-
robe to shouts of “Wel- last weekend, bowing to bians showed they want- ment of nuclear weapons.
come! Welcome!” “I am a international pressure that ed change, supporting Although generally dismissive of sanctions, Beijing has
happy man today,” Barrow included a regional military a coalition of opposition signed on to successive rounds under the U.N. Security
told The Associated Press force, ending a more than parties whose aim was to Council, while continuing to advocate a resumption of
amid the crush of his ar- 22-year rule. The West Afri- oust Jammeh and put the six-nation nuclear negotiations hosted by China that
rival. “I think the bad part is can troops were poised to country on a path toward have been on ice since North Korea withdrew in 2009.
finished now.” He promised oust Jammeh if diplomat- greater freedoms. Beijing’s unique relationship with North Korea’s heredi-
to get his Cabinet in place ic talks failed. They have Jammeh has ended up in tary dictatorship has generated expectations that it
and “then get the ball roll- spent recent days securing Equatorial Guinea, taking holds the key to ending the threat from North Korea,
ing.” Gambians had ea- the country for Barrow’s ar- luxury cars and other riches something Chinese officials and scholars call a vast ex-
gerly awaited Barrow, who rival. A larger, more formal amassed during his presi- aggeration. China also firmly opposes any measures
has promised to reverse ceremony to welcome Bar- dency and accompanied that could lead to the toppling of Kim Jong Un’s re-
many of the authoritarian row home will take place by trusted family and secu- gime, something it fears would lead to a massive wave
policies of former leader at a later date, spokesman rity guards. of refugees crossing into China and the presence of
Yahya Jammeh, who was Halifa Sallah said. When Jammeh left, the South Korean and U.S. troops along its border.
accused of imprisoning, About 2,500 of the ECOW- streets in Banjul exploded Despite that, Trump complained in a tweet earlier this
torturing and killing his po- AS troops remained in in celebration, with music month that China “won’t help with North Korea,” even
litical opponents. Gambia — in the capital, blaring from speakers and while it benefits from commercial links with the U.S.
“Every Gambian must be Banjul, as well as at key people dancing in the Trump’s nominee to be secretary of state, Rex Tillerson,
free. We suffered for 22 crossing points between streets.q has spoken in starker terms. q