China opposes the use of economic sanctions in resolving the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Thursday.

The United Nations Security Council has been holding negotiations on Darfur issue and relevant resolutions concerning the crisis.

"China expects the Security Council to send peacekeeping troops to Darfur as soon as possible, and help fulfill the peace resolutions achieved by hard efforts," said Liu at a regular news briefing.

"China believes those who violated human rights and international humanitarianism should be punished, and hopes the international community will take active efforts to improve the situation in Darfur.

"China also believes sanctions are not an effective way to resolve problems and China has been opposing economic sanctions or pressures imposed on relevant countries, including on the Darfur issue," he said.

Violence flared up in Sudan's western Darfur region in February 2003. During the two-year clash, thousands of people have been killed and over one million driven to neighboring Chad or internally displaced.