Peacekeeping Contributions
2016-09-12 01:38:54
Beijing Review 2016年32期
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Peacekeeping Contributions
A 1994 UN bulletin that included photos of China dispatching five military observers to the UN Truce Supervision Organization now serves as historic evidence of the first involvement of Chinese military personnel in peacekeeping operations.
In the past 26 years, China has participated in 24 UN peacekeeping missions, dispatching more than 30,000 military personnel, police and civil affairs officials. At present, nearly 2,500 Chinese peacekeepers are serving in nine UN peacekeeping operations.
As one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has always been committed to undertaking its responsibilities and obligations in safeguarding world peace. It is one of the biggest contributors to UN peacekeeping personnel. It is also the second largest contributor to the UN’s peacekeeping costs from 2016 to 2018, just behind the United States, accounting for 10.2 percent of the total.
In September 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the UN Headquarters in New York City that China is to join the new UN peacekeeping capability readiness system, and will take the lead to set up a permanent peacekeeping police squad, building a peacekeeping standby force of 8,000 troops.
“In recent years, China has become a crucial contributor to peacekeeping missions. The United Nations will continue to seek cooperation with China in peacekeeping operations,” Herve Ladsous, UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, told Xinhua News Agency.
Chinese peacekeepers are welltrained, well-equipped and are fully prepared for peacekeeping tasks. Not only are they working for the United Nations, they are also helping local people within the mission zones, winning themselves extensive credit.
Although UN peacekeeping operations do not target enemies, this does not mean peacekeepers do not face danger. In fact, blue helmets struggle with riots, warfare, disease and other kinds of safety risks in various operations. Over the past 26 years, 19 Chinese peacekeepers have died in the line of duty, including three deaths in Mali and South Sudan this summer.
Devoting oneself to the cause of peace and defying death is a virtue in the Chinese military. In the future, more Chinese military personnel will don the blue helmet and appear where they are needed in an unswerving effort to safeguard global peace.
