But the conflict is also an economic war, with each side largely operating without the oil revenue the nations have long been negotiating over how to share. Most of the oil wells are in the south, but the facilities to export the oil are in the north. The increasingly martial tone of conflict extends to a proposed law that Sudanâs National Assembly plans to debate on Monday. The legislation would make it illegal for Sudanese merchants to trade with South Sudan and would impose stiff penalties on violators. It is called the Repelling of the Aggression and the Holding the Aggressors Accountable Law of 2012. China, a close investment partner for both Sudan and South Sudan, has become a pivotal player in what the International Crisis Group called a âdelicate danceâ in a report this month. South Sudanâs president, Salva Kiir, visited China last week, partly in hopes of locking down an investment deal for an alternative oil pipeline that would export South Sudanâs oil through Kenya. Instead, China will give South Sudan $8 billion âfor development, telecommunications, infrastructure, roads, agriculture,â Mr. Benjamin, the information minister, said. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/30/w...s-state-of-emergency-as-clashes-continue.html