Just last month, the surprisingly competitive French presidential candidate Francois Bayrou threatened a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics if China continued to protect the Sudanese government from the international community's attempts to intervene in Darfur. Bayrou said that the Olympics were now "a political issue because China decided to bring its protection to the Khartoum regime."

The Chinese were outraged that Bayrou would make such an accusation. Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said that "the people who put forward those remarks are not very clear on China's position on the Darfur issue."

In what must be an effort to clear up that position for ignorant foreign leaders, the People's Daily now reports that "China and Sudan vowed in Beijing Monday to boost military exchanges and cooperation in various sectors."

"Military relations between China and Sudan have developed smoothly," said Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan at a meeting with Chief of Joint Staff of Sudanese armed forces Haj Ahmed El Gaili.

China and Sudan have enjoyed profound friendship though the two countries are far apart, said Cao, who is also vice chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission and state councilor.

China cherished the traditional friendship with Sudan and would like to further promote bilateral cooperation in various fields, said Cao.

Haj Ahmed El Gaili appreciated China's long-term support to Sudan. He said the Sudanese armed forces want to maintain and strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side so as to lift bilateral ties to a new height.

And now that that's been cleared up, I'm sure that we can all watch the Beijing Olympics with a clear conscience.