Chinese soldiers hone skills on frontlines of peace
- Source: Global Times
- [21:45 May 10 2010]
- Comments
Chinese multi-role engineering company successfully drilled a well in Darfur, Sudan. Photo: Wang Huipu and Liu Taikun
Editor's Note:
In April 1990, five officers of Chinese People's Liberation Army, wearing the blue berets for the first time, joined the UN Truce Supervision Organization in the Middle East, which led the way for China's contribution to UN peacekeeping operations.
This April marked the 20th anniversary of China's first participation in UN peacekeeping. China has become the biggest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Global Times (GT) reporter Peng Kuang interviewed Senior Colonel Zhang Ping(Zhang), deputy director general, Peacekeeping Affairs Office, Ministry of National Defense, about China's participation in UN peacekeeping and its contributions to world peace.
GT: What are China's principles when participating in UN operations?
Zhang: China advocates that UN peacekeeping must be guided by the spirit and principles of the UN Charter, and the following three basic principles, which have been proved through practice to be effective: consent of the parties, impartiality and no use of force except in self-defense.
The dominant role of the Security Council should be strengthened. UN peacekeeping should be authorized and directed by the Security Council, abide by relevant resolutions, and report to the Security Council in a prompt manner.
Besides, we should allocate limited peacekeeping resources to the most needed places, enhance the review of the situation of the host nations and establish exit strategies accordingly. We should strengthen cooperation and coordination within the UN as well as between the UN and relevant institutions and regional organizations.
We should give priority to eliminating the root cause of the conflicts, make better use of the holistic approach, strengthen the management of peacekeeping operations, bring the quality and integrity of peacekeepers to a higher standard, enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of peacekeeping and promote peacekeeping capacity building.
Following the aforementioned principles, China has been gradually increasing its participation in UN peacekeeping and the UN headquarters, which makes China the biggest troop-contributor among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
China will continue its active participation in UN peacekeeping to make new contributions to world peace and security as well as the development of UN peacekeeping.
GT: When asked to take part in a specific peacekeeping mission, how does China decide to join or not?
Zhang: In January 2002, China formally joined the Level-I standby arrangement system of UN peacekeeping, designating one UN standard engineering battalion for construction, one UN standard level-II hospital and two UN standard transport companies as its standby force. These units can be deployed to mission areas within 90 days at the UN's request.
As for a specific peacekeeping mission, at the invitation of the UN and with the consent of concerning parties, the Chinese government will positively consider making its due contributions to the peace, stability and development of the regions in conflict.
GT: How does China view the UN's role in peacekeeping?
Zhang: UN peacekeeping is an important creation and an effective way to practice multilateralism and achieve collective security. It has played an important role in easing tensions and resolving regional conflicts.
As the tenet of our foreign policy is to safeguard world peace and promote common development, we resolutely support and actively participate in UN peacekeeping operations.
GT: Over the past 20 years, how many UN peacekeeping operations has China participated in and what have Chinese peacekeepers been tasked for?
Zhang: Since its first participation in 1990, the PLA has contributed a total of over 15,000 military personnel to 18 UN peacekeeping missions. At present, we have deployed military units to the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN Mission in Liberia, the UN Mission in Sudan, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, and the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (Sudan). These units are mainly tasked with constructing and maintaining roads, bridges and airports, delivering supplies and providing medical treatment.
The well-drilling platoon within the Chinese multi-role engineering company deployed to Darfur is the only such unit among all UN peacekeeping forces.
So far, it has successfully drilled six wells, making notable contributions to the alleviation of water shortages in the Darfur region.
