China Deploys 15,000 UN Peacekeepers in Two Decades

The year 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of China's participation in UN peacekeeping missions. As a rising world economic power, China has sent more than 15-thousand peacekeeping troops to join UN-led operations across the globe over the past two decades.

China's Ministry of National Defense says it has no intention to send combat peacekeeping troops overseas unless the UN makes a request.

Yao Yongmei has more.

Reporter:
Just in the last week, Chinese peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo joined other UN troops in offering medical aid to the injured following an oil truck explosion that claimed some 230 lives.

The medics administered first aid to 10 injured locals and transferred 30 others to hospitals.

Senior Colonel Tao Xiangyang, Deputy Peacekeeping Director of the Ministry of National Defense, has reaffirmed to military officers from 36 countries in Beijing that China will continue to join international peacekeeping operations to help maintain global peace and stability.

"Since China sent five military observers to the Middle East in 1990, we have joined a total of 18 UN peacekeeping missions and sent more than 15-thousand troops overseas. In the past 20 years, we have had three observers and six soldiers killed on duty for the cause of UN peacekeeping."

Chinese peacekeepers have earned a reputation for being disciplined and efficient in line with the country's mission to expand its diplomatic ties.

Djakoure Emmanuel, a military officer from Cote'd Ivoire, is among the diplomats who attended a tour in the newly built national peacekeeping center in suburban Beijing.

"[The Chinese officer] tells us what they do in practice. These are all important experiences that we can learn from."

So far, China has only sent non-combat troops to join international peacekeeping operations. Colonel Tao Xiangyang says the defense ministry will consider UN requests for combat peacekeeping in the future.

"We have three aspects to consider regarding sending combat peacekeepers—the reality of our defensive national strategy, opinions from the international community, and also our military power. If the UN does make a request in the future, we will make recommendations to our top policymakers at the right time."

Chinese peacekeepers are now deployed in nine areas around the world, as far away as DRC, Sudan, Afghanistan and Haiti. They mainly provide medical care, reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid.

For CRI, I'm Yao Yongmei.