Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Western Sahara
Relationship assessment
China supports the UN process on Western Sahara; direct Sahrawi government ties are unclear.
People's Republic of China toward Western Sahara
+5China has supported a UN-led political process on Western Sahara and contributed peacekeepers to the UN mission in the territory.
Western Sahara toward People's Republic of China
Not assessedOverall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
China has supported a UN-led political process for Western Sahara and contributed peacekeepers to the UN mission there. Information about direct cooperation by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic with the Chinese government is insufficient to assess its policy toward China.
Key developments
China contributed peacekeepers to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
Major uncertainties
- The extent of direct contact or cooperation between China and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is unclear.
- The scope of China’s support for a political settlement beyond its role in the UN process is unclear.