This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN) and the 30th year since China's armed forces first participated in UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs).

A white paper entitled "China's Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operations" was released by the State Council Information Office on Sept. 18, a key document detailing how China's armed forces have become a key force in serving the cause of world peace.

Service and Sacrifice

From Sudan's West Darfur and South Sudan to Mali, every mission undertaken by Chinese peacekeeper Liu Yong has been in a dangerous armed conflict environment.

He recalled: "When I was on a mission in the South Sudan as a member of an infantry battalion in 2015, the government and anti-government forces frequently exchanged fire and gunfights erupted less than 100 meters away from our base. We clearly heard the deafening explosions and smelt the gunpowder."

"Luckily, we handled it properly. We managed to protect ourselves from being drawn into the conflict and protected the local residents from being hurt."

Mi Xiugang was once a member of the first, third, and fifth batches of Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalions dispatched to South Sudan. On July 10, 2016, two of his comrades, Li Lei and Yang Shupeng, were killed during a mission when their armored vehicle was hit by a shell.

Mi Xiugang said: "Now, the infantry fighting vehicle they once took is still quietly parked in a corner of the Chinese peacekeeping infantry base in South Sudan. We often lay floral tributes. They are our role models who support us emotionally when we are confronted with threats and dangers."

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