Session Alignment

Spielberg shows Beijing red card over Darfur

In a gesture sure to rattle the Chinese Government , Steven Spielberg pulled out of the Beijing Olympics to protest against China 's backing for Sudan 's policy in Darfur .

His withdrawal comes in the wake of fighting flaring up again in Darfur and is set to embarrass China , which has sought to halt the negative fallout from having close ties to the Sudanese government .

China , which has extensive investments in the Sudanese oil industry , maintains close links with the Government , which includes one minister charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court in The Hague .

Although emphasizing that Khartoum bears the bulk of the responsibility for these ongoing atrocities , Spielberg maintains that the international community , and particularly China , should do more to end the suffering .