Growing participation

China first took part in UN peacekeeping in 1988 when it joined the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and was formally endorsed by the General Assembly in December that year."Peacekeeping has become an important means of the UN to safeguard international peace and security and is conducive to easing regional conflicts and resolving disputes peacefully," China's permanent representative to the UN wrote to the UN secretary general in a letter. "China is willing to contribute to peacekeeping along with the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations."

This move was welcomed by both developing countries and developed countries.The New York Times commented that it marked a major change in China’s foreign policy.The Times pointed out that with this move, China joined the international community and undertook important responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council.

Four prominent features of China's UN peacekeeping missions have since stood out.

First, Chinese peacekeepers are found in more and more regions. China sent its first military observers to the Middle East in 1990. In 1992, it sent its first group of blue helmets to Cambodia. In the two years that followed, Chinese peacekeepers helped Cambodians repair four roads totaling 640 km, build 47 new bridges and complete a large number of other infrastructure projects. Two Chinese soldiers were killed and more than 10 soldiers were wounded. Chinese peacekeepers made remarkable contributions to the smooth operation of the UN mission in Cambodia.

By 2000, China had taken part in 10 UN peacekeeping missions, to which it sent about 650 people, including military observers, military liaison officers, military advisers and staff officers, as well as 800 engineering corps in two groups.

Second, more and more Chinese peacekeepers are involved. In the UN Millennium Summit in 2000, world leaders called for greater peacekeeping efforts in light of the drastic changes in the international situation. Responding to this call, China began to contribute more peacekeeping personnel. In 2001, it sent 190 peacekeeping civilian police officers to the UN mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It joined the peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with one engineering battalion, two transportation companies and a medical team in February 2001. It sent another 248 engineering troops and medical staff to the Congo in April 2003. In April 2004, it dispatched 12 civilian police officers to Kosovo. It sent peacekeeping personnel to war-torn Liberia and Haiti in 2006. It also sent 300 peacekeeping personnel to Lebanon at the request of the UN. To date, China has contributed the second largest number of peacekeepers among the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Third, China has been widely recognized for its commitment to UN peacekeeping operations. Chinese peacekeepers work under extreme climate conditions and harsh political circumstances. However, they have been able to carry out their mission with a firm resolve, sacrifice themselves for the humanitarian cause, get along well with local residents and cooperate effectively with peacekeepers from other countries. All these have won them high recognition from the international community. Many Western media outlets commented that the Chinese peacekeeping force is one of the best trained and most motivated of all UN peacekeeping forces.

Fourth, training bases have been established. China set up training bases for prospective peacekeepers in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province and Langfang, Hebei Province. Apart from foreign language skills, they receive intensive training in emergency treatment, logistical support, conflict prevention and cooperation with peacekeepers from other countries.

China’s policy on UN peacekeeping is always determined by its evaluation of the international situation and understanding of its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Today, China is taking an active part in all UN programs, including peacekeeping operations. It has vowed to commit ceaseless efforts to participate in, develop and safeguard the UN system.

First launched in 1948, UN peacekeeping operations have a history of nearly six decades. Most of the over 60 peacekeeping missions are successful, an extraordinary achievement for the UN. At present, UN peacekeepers total more than 100,000, and the annual budget for its peacekeeping missions amounts to over $4.5 billion. Peacekeeping is a serious mission of the UN, given its nobleness and the large number of people and huge budget involved. In the past 15 years, China has sent some 6,000 peacekeeping personnel to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Europe.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has introduced a major reorganization of the UN peacekeeping forces, paving the way for more effective enforcement of peacekeeping operations. It is hoped that the UN peacekeeping forces will bring their potential into full play as they become cleaner and better disciplined with this adjustment. China will continue to work toward that goal.

The author is a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies. He served as councilor and alternate representative to the Security Council in China’s Permanent Mission to the UN