Copy Reference On September 18, the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China released a white paper titled China’s Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operations. It was the first white paper released by the Chinese government on participation of the country’s armed forces in UN peacekeeping operations (PKOs).
Over the last 30 years since its first involvement in PKOs, China’s armed forces have contributed a growing number of peacekeepers across an expanding range of deployments. From a few military observers at the outset, China’s armed forces are now sending both full units and individual military professionals. Chinese military peacekeepers serve UN missions in engineer, medical, transport, helicopter, force protection and infantry units, and as staff officers, military observers, and commanders. Chinese military peacekeepers have served in over 20 countries and regions including Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Liberia, Sudan, Lebanon, Cyprus, South Sudan, Mali, and the Central African Republic. They have made tremendous contributions to facilitating peaceful settlement of disputes, safeguarding regional security and stability, and promoting economic and social development in host nations.
Surprise Attacks
Mali is an African country on the southern edge of the Saharan Desert. Long-term divisions and war have resulted in continuous local armed conflicts. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon once referred to Mali as “the most dangerous UN peacekeeping mission area.” In May 2019, China’s armed forces dispatched the 7th contingent consisting of a force protection unit of 210 troops, an engineering unit of 140 troops, and a medical unit of 63 troops to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
Sergeant Liu Quanzhen handles logistics for the medical unit stationed at the UN Super Camp in Gao. While on sentry duty at night, peacekeepers enjoy the brightest stars they’ve ever seen in the dark blue night sky. However, the lack of electricity leaves them surrounded by total darkness. Armed attacks can happen at any time. Continued vigilance can be the difference between life and death.
“In Mali, we had to man the guard posts 24 hours a day,” said Major Liu Yong, contingent commander and concurrent commander of the force protection unit. During the 456 days of his assignment in Mali, he continuously kept his troops on high alert. “Terrorists could attack at any time. The sentries on duty had to stay sharp.”
Liu clearly remembers the afternoon of July 22, 2019, when the French camp in Gao was attacked by two terrorists in a pickup truck loaded with explosives. The explosion took place about 800 meters northeast of the Super Camp. Liu immediately ordered his troops to enter the bunker and prepare for combat.
When the explosion occurred, Captain Liu Quanzhen was in the dormitory off duty. The impact of the explosion shook the building. A mushroom-shaped cloud could be seen in the sky over the French camp, and the smell of gunpowder permeated the air. The Chinese medical unit had established a level-2 hospital in the Super Camp. Shortly after the explosion, around 30 injured peacekeepers were rushed to the hospital.
“That attack was closest to our peacekeepers,” said Major Liu Yong. “It was a huge blow psychologically. In such a dangerous and complex environment, we have to participate in peacekeeping operations according to SOPs [standard operating procedures] and stay ready to respond to attacks at all times.”
Major Zhu Siqiang, deputy contingent commander and concurrent commander of the medical unit, shared the same sentiment, saying “Peacekeepers had to stay alert for gunfire, mines, and roadside bombs.” During his time in Mali, he treated many peacekeepers who suffered from shrapnel and burns, including six who still died.
Minefields
While staying alert for surprise attacks, peacekeepers also face mortal danger during daily work. From May 2019 to August 2020, Major Gao Chaoning served as the Chinese contingent commander and concurrent commander of the multifunctional engineering unit in Lebanon, which carried out mine clearance and engineering construction tasks as well as humanitarian assistance for the local population.
In 1978, a conflict broke out between Lebanon and Israel. Extensive unexploded ordnance planted along the border between the two countries has remained a huge threat to the local population and peacekeepers alike. During his tour of duty, Gao led his unit through six consecutive hours of mine clearance every day, a test of physical and psychological endurance. Technicians entered the minefields wearing five kilograms of protective gear and holding a three-kilogram detector. The detector warned of nearby ordnance, enabling them to remove the fuze with special equipment. Any misstep could lead to a lethal explosion. In summer, peacekeepers also battled the potential for heat stroke, which could also prove lethal if one were to fall on a mine.
Some new members of the unit were inexperienced at mine clearance. They were often too nervous to dig out mines. Sometimes, they couldn’t help trembling after pulling one up. “To prevent accidents, we arranged for experienced deminers to supervise newer recruits,” said Gao. “When a supervisor sees something wrong, he can take immediate action.” During his assignment in Lebanon, Gao and his unit of 40 deminers successfully cleared a massive area, with each member averaging 37.5 mines.
Since March 2006 when China sent its first engineering unit to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), it has been performing demining along the border between Lebanon and Israel continuously. China has removed more than 10,000 mines and other explosives in the area without recording a single casualty.
COVID-19
The outbreak of COVID-19 presented a new life-or-death test for Chinese peacekeepers. In March 2020, a few months after the outbreak in China, the pandemic began to spread in Africa. The peacekeeping medical unit was prepared with the pandemic experience from back home.
“MINUSMA had three level-2 hospitals manned by three countries,” explained Major Zhu Siqiang, commander of the Chinese medical unit. “We manned the level-2 hospital at the Super Camp in Gao. During the pandemic, the other two hospitals had to be closed due to large-scale infections to isolate all medical staff. Our hospital was the only one to remain open for normal operation.”
“During four months of anti-pandemic operations in Mali, none of our medical staff was infected,” reported Zhu proudly. “The hospital always remained open, which was reassuring for UN peacekeepers and local people alike.”
Regrets
“My biggest regret during the peacekeeping mission in Mali was seeing local people lacking food and clothing,” said Captain Liu Quanzhen. “Survival became a major struggle after so many years of war turmoil. It was a sadness I cannot express in words.” When Liu and his comrades went out on patrol, they would bring food and candy for the local children, who would express gratitude by saying ‘China’ or ‘Xiexie’ [‘thank you’ in Chinese].”
“I do hope that things improve soon in that country,” said Liu emotionally.
“UN peacekeeping troops have limited capabilities,” admitted Major Liu Yong. “We felt sad for local people living through unimaginable suffering, but we could do very little to change the situation because we couldn’t change the overall environment of war.” Such inability to help more weighed heavily on peacekeepers.
Peace
Since 1990, China’s armed forces have sent over 40,000 peacekeepers to 25 UN peacekeeping missions. Sixteen Chinese military peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives for the noble cause of peace.
Today, China is the largest troop contributor among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget.
“As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has played an extremely important role in enhancing the influence and performance of UN peacekeeping operations,” commented Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. China has become a key force in UN peacekeeping operations.
China’s growing strength in UN peacekeeping operations has stirred interest from the international community on China’s philosophy of peacekeeping, perception of “peace” among China’s armed forces, and the changes that China could bring to international peacekeeping.
Captain Wang Jianfei, assistant researcher at the Institute of War Studies at the PLA Academy of Military Sciences, called China’s armed forces a staunch supporter of the UN’s decisive role in peacekeeping operations. He noted that China has always insisted that all peacekeeping operations be sanctioned by the UN.
“The aim is ensuring that operations align with the purposes of the UN Charter and basic principles of UN peacekeeping,” said Wang.
In September 2017, China completed registration of a UN peacekeeping standby force of 8,000 troops with 28 units in 10 categories: infantry, engineering, transport, medical, force protection, rapid response, helicopters, transport aircraft, UAV, and surface-to-ship units. China now supplies the most standby peacekeeping troops of the most diverse profile.
“Recruitment, training, and assessment of this force has remained in strict accordance with UN regulations,” commented Wang. “With a UN mandate, the force is ready for deployment at any time.”
Instead of keeping the peace for its own interests, China has invested heavily in building lasting peace. “China’s peacekeeping missions have expanded in scope from ceasefire monitoring and situation stabilization to addressing the root causes of war like poverty and lagging development,” said Wang. “Only development will build lasting peace and enhance the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations.”
For this reason, the white paper listed “sowing the seeds of hope” as part of the mission and responsibility of Chinese peacekeeping troops alongside “ceasefire supervision, stabilizing the situations, protecting civilians, providing force protection, and deploying enabling capabilities.” Within the framework of peacekeeping operations, China has strengthened its coordination and cooperation with various international organizations and humanitarian agencies and actively participated in post-war reconstruction, living standard improvement, and social development in host countries.
“Chinese military personnel not only keep the peace, but also sow seeds of hope and warmth around the world, which has been a fine tradition of the Chinese military,” said Wang. “I continue to dream of the day that peacekeeping operations are no longer necessary in a world of great harmony.”
Photos courtesy of the Peacekeeping Center of China’s Ministry of National Defense
Chinese peacekeepers in South Sudan discuss farming techniques with a local.
Local people bid farewell to Chinese peacekeeping troops leaving Liberia.
A Chinese engineering unit in Darfur, Sudan, shares a delightful moment with the local people after securing fresh water from one of 14 wells they drilled.
Chinese peacekeepers rehearse for a parade for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing on September 11, 2019. (LIU JUN)