Chinese diplomats make exception to non-interference rule by meeting South Sudan opposition

China could be straying from its decades-old position of "not interfering in the internal affairs of other nations", with a Chinese diplomat for Africa saying that Beijing was becoming more involved in the conflict in South Sudan, where it has big oilfield investments.

Zhong Jianhua, China's special envoy for African Affairs, said China used to be "rigid" about not getting involved in foreign internal conflicts but was doing so this time in the interests of peace and stability in Africa.

Zhong told the South Africa-based Sunday Independent that he met members of the South Sudanese opposition in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia soon after fighting erupted in December in the South Sudanese capital of Juba between President Salva Kiir's army and rebel forces allied with his former deputy, Riek Machar.

Oil production, which accounts for more than 90 per cent of South Sudan's revenue, has been shut down and more than 1.5 million people have fled their homes because of the conflict.

An official from the Chinese embassy in Juba told the South China Morning Post that more meetings between Chinese officials and the South Sudanese opposition had been held since December, including one in September.

"This is a typical domestic conflict. Usually when this happens, we try to avoid making direct contact with the opposition because, to some extent we think, it's a rebel force," Zhong said.

"When you talk to a rebel force that means stepping into internal affairs."