off policy when it comes to what it perceives as the internal matters of other countries. It is the same defense that the country has traditionally used to deflect outside criticism of its own internal governance, as well, rejecting international calls for investigation of controversial events that have taken place within its borders. In joining other nations in sanctioning the Libyan government and recommending action by the International Criminal Court, China has taken a major step in standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the international community and eschewing an isolationism that it can no longer afford. There are some 30,000 Chinese oil workers in Libya, so the Chinese government was certainly under a good deal of domestic pressure to condemn Muammar Gaddaffi's brutal response to protesters that has now escalated to near-civil war. But the decision to join other nations in condemning the Gaddafi government is a significant departure from its post-Cold War policy that a multi-polar world does not demand the intervention of outsiders in a sovereign nation's internal machinations. In Myanmar and Darfur (though it did negotiate with Sudan over actions there), it generally stayed mum on the oppressive actions of governments. But with involvement with a number of African regimes, China is finding itself in the international spotlight, where inaction and non-response seems to be complicity and approval. It is important that China makes its new approach publicly known. Its heavy presence in Africa means that it is likely to confront unrest and government instability there in the future. Sitting by idly in the face of the turmoil in Libya would indicate that it would have no response to future troubles in other countries, giving carte blanche to those government to do whatever they please without risking Chinese investment or support. That is not the message a 21st century superpower wants to send to the world. __
