Whereas Washington is very critical towards Beijing’s engagement in Sudan, it has not questioned China’s relationship with Equatorial Guinea, which is a major supplier of oil to both the United States and China.
A report by the US State Department concluded that Equatorial Guinea had a poor human rights record, and that the government continued to “to commit and condone serious abuses”.
Despite this fact, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2006 welcomed the country’s president as a “good friend”.
About 20 U.S. oil companies dominate oil production in the country.