China peacekeeping mainstay: White paper

Chinese assume more important leadership positions

China on Friday released a white paper on the participation of the country’s armed forces in UN peacekeeping operations, commemorating 30 years of China’s contribution to maintaining world peace and stability.

The white paper, released by the State Council Information Office, noted that peace is rooted in the Chinese nation’s DNA, and registered the major events of the Chinese military’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

The appendix to the white paper documents that 16 Chinese soldiers sacrificed their lives during UN peacekeeping operations so far.

The Chinese military’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations began in April 1990, when it sent five military observers to the UN

Truce Supervision Organization. Over the past 30 years, China has gradually become a “mainstay” in UN peacekeeping operations. In the past 30 years, China has dispatched a total of more than 40,000 peacekeepers to over 25 UN peacekeeping missions.

The PLA has exchanged and cooperated with more than 90 countries and over 10 international and regional organizations in peacekeeping operations, says the white paper.

The PLA’s troops have zero violations and have never been repatriated, which is unique among all UN peacekeeping forces, said Cai Hui, senior instructor of Peacekeeping Affairs Center, Ministry of National Defense.

With the deepening of China’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations, some Western countries have groundlessly accused that

China takes the opportunity to expand its military strength and seek economic interests in host countries. Cai said this narrow understanding is not consistent with the facts.

China’s peacekeeping operations in Africa are authorized by the UN Security Council, and UN peacekeeping operations are not a purely military operation. Peacekeeping includes not only the traditional tasks of isolating conflicts and monitoring ceasefires, but also assisting humanitarian agencies, training government forces in host countries.

China has become the country with the largest number of UN peacekeeping standby forces and the most complete contingents. In the future, more security personnel will be sent to UN peacekeeping operations, according to the white paper.

With the increasing influence of China’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations, Chinese peacekeepers have also appeared in more important leadership positions of the UN peacekeeping force.

He Xing is an associate professor at the National University of Defense Technology and a senior instructor at the department of peace missions. He served as commander of the southern theater command of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan from December 2017 to December 2018.

He believes his rise to the job reflects China’s growing influence and the UN’s recognition of Chinese peacekeepers’ dedication. “Over the past 30 years, our peacekeepers have become more adapted to the UN command system and standards, and have a better understanding of various provisions. Their overall capacity has improved.”