China's Growing Role in UN Peacekeeping Efforts

Chinese scholar Yang Mingjie emphasized the nation's strong support for the United Nations, citing China's contribution of over 3,000 troops and police to peacekeeping missions since the late 1980s. This support is evident in recent deployments, including a third peacekeeping riot police contingent sent to Haiti, in addition to civilian police, engineers, and medical staff dispatched to East Timor, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Yang highlighted the professionalism and discipline of Chinese peacekeepers, who have earned accolades for their work in crisis-torn countries such as Haiti.

Key Takeaways:

• China has contributed over 3,000 troops and police to UN peacekeeping missions since the late 1980s, making it the largest contributor among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
• The Chinese government supports the UN's role in maintaining world peace and security, with a commitment to humanitarian work and crisis management.
• Chinese peacekeepers have earned international recognition for their discipline and work efficiency, including a UN peace medal in January 2005 for their performance in Haiti.
• The Ministry of National Defense is responsible for coordinating and managing Chinese troops' participation in UN peacekeeping missions through a dedicated peacekeeping affairs office.
• China has a long history of participating in UN peacekeeping operations, with its first deployment being a military engineering team sent to Cambodia in 1992.
• Yang Mingjie, an assistant to the president of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, emphasized China's commitment to making "due contributions to harmony in the international community with actual deeds."

Statistics:

• Over 3,000 Chinese troops and police have been deployed to UN peacekeeping missions since the late 1980s.
• China has contributed the largest number of troops to UN peacekeeping operations among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
• 100 Chinese peacekept riot police were awarded a UN peace medal in January 2005 for their outstanding performance in Haiti.
• China has sent its third peacekeeping riot police contingent to Haiti as part of its ongoing commitment to UN peacekeeping efforts.
• The Ministry of National Defense has been coordinating Chinese troops' participation in UN peacekeeping missions through a dedicated peacekeeping affairs office since its establishment.

Sources:

• Xinhua News Agency, "China's UN Peacekeeping Role," Beijing, Dec 13, 2005