Link: https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00080019.html
In 2002 and 2003 the United States of America placed targeted sanctions on the government of Zimbabwe. The United States placed these sanctions because of widespread government-sponsored violence which threatened the security and safety of the region. These sanctions consisted of financial sanctions, visa sanctions against specific individuals, a ban of transfers on defence items, and a suspension in non-humanitarian government to government assistance. Recently Zimbabwe and other countries have started to call for the removal of these sanctions. One country in particular is China. The Chinese embassy said “the Western imposed illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe are a violation of international law and human rights”.
This is important at the global level because this is another action by China to show their growing power. As we know there has been a political battle between the countries of China and the United States. This is a call by China that basically says who are you to impose these sanctions. The sanctions were originally put in to stop violence in the area and try to create peace. These sanctions were also set 20 years ago to stop things that were happening back then. The question for the United States now is are these sanctions still necessary with how Zimbabwe is currently doing.
This relates back to our class because of the countries that are involved. Right as we know we are transitioning out of a unipolar system and heading into a bi-polar system with China. China has now become almost a big brother for Zimbabwe to stick up for them and what China thinks is right. This can also be seen a different way with China trying to challenge the power of the United States and get them to back down which would make China appear much stronger in the eyes of the world.