Movie director Steven Spielberg has decided to quit his role as artistic adviser to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, citing concerns over China’s relationship with the Sudanese goverment.

China has strived to keep political discussions separate from the Olympic Games.

“Sudan’s government bears the bulk of the responsibility for these ongoing crimes but the international community, and particularly China, should be doing more to end the continuing human suffering there,” a statement by Spielberg said. “China’s economic, military and diplomatic ties to the government of Sudan continue to provide it with the opportunity and obligation to press for change.”

China’s response was as follows: “As the Darfur issue is neither an internal issue of China nor is it caused by China, it is completely unreasonable, irresponsible and unfair to link the two as one.”

Read more: Spielberg quits Olympics work to protest Chinese inaction