For decades, China has adhered to a doctrine of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, especially across the African continent where its economic footprint is vast. However, the intensifying insurgency in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) appears to have tested the limits of that policy—particularly as China’s mining investments come under threat.
In a rare move, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, issued a direct appeal to Rwanda, urging it to withdraw military support for the M23 rebel group and pull back its troops from Congolese territory. The statement, repeated on two occasions this year, marked a significant diplomatic gesture by Beijing, underscoring growing anxiety over Chinese interests in one of the world’s most mineral-rich regions.
“China reiterates its hope that Rwanda will heed the call of the international community, stop its military support for M23, and immediately withdraw all its military forces from [DR Congo],” Fu said in February at the UN.
Beijing followed up with a vote in favor of a UN Security Council resolution condemning Rwanda’s alleged role in the conflict—another rare divergence from China’s usual abstentionist approach, particularly when strategic partners are involved.
Mining at the Core of the Conflict
The conflict in eastern Congo, reignited in 2022, is rooted in longstanding ethnic divisions and the competition for control over the region’s vast mineral wealth. The rebel group M23 has seized key towns such as Goma and Bukavu—both located near the Rwandan border and home to Chinese-operated gold and coltan mines.
The DRC supplies over 40% of the world’s tantalum, a mineral refined from coltan and used in everything from smartphones to aircraft components. A majority of the DRC’s tantalum is exported to China, which also depends on Congolese exports of tin and tungsten—the other components of the “3Ts” critical to modern electronics manufacturing.
Meanwhile, Rwanda is also a known exporter of tantalum, but Kinshasa claims that much of what Rwanda sells is smuggled from Congolese territory. The growing instability in the region has threatened to disrupt production and logistics around these vital resources.
Economic Pressure Trumps Neutrality
Beijing’s shift is viewed by analysts not as an abandonment of its non-interference doctrine, but rather a tactical adjustment to protect its long-term strategic and economic interests in the region.
“It would be hypocritical of China not to raise concerns over what is a bread-and-butter case of interference and the undermining of [DR Congo’s] territorial sovereignty,” said Benjamin Barton, associate professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
Despite the UN rebuke, China’s tone remained cautiously diplomatic. Barton noted that the language used against Rwanda was unusually soft, likely to avoid alienating Kigali while still signaling concern to Kinshasa.
Illegal Mines and Strategic Vulnerabilities
Estimates suggest there are over 450 illegal Chinese mining operations in the South Kivu region alone. These are vulnerable not only to conflict but also to regulatory crackdowns, raising further risks for Beijing if the political climate deteriorates further.
“The potential disruption of supply lines of important minerals like coltan are a threat to Chinese production at home,” said Chris Alden of the London School of Economics.
U.S. Response and Competitive Tensions
China isn’t the only global power reacting. The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwandan minister James Kabarebe, while forming a minerals and security partnership with Kinshasa. U.S.-linked Alphamin Resources has since resumed operations in Walikale after M23’s partial withdrawal.
The Geopolitics of Extraction
The Chinese foreign ministry insists it remains committed to peaceful multilateral solutions, promoting dialogue through the UN and African regional institutions. As tensions mount in Congo, China’s quiet shift reflects a deeper priority: safeguarding mineral access and stability for its domestic industries.