Chinese UN peacekeepers safeguard world peace
- By Zhang Yue
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E-mail China.org.cn, July 17, 2015
With their faith in equality, openness, and inclusiveness, Chinese peacekeepers respect and support their counterparts from other countries, and the cultural and religious traditions of local communities. When its engineering team renovated barracks in Lebanon formerly occupied by Ukrainian and Nepalese peacekeepers, they kept intact the religious murals left behind by their Ukrainian peers and a monument to fallen Nepalese soldiers, a considerate move highly praised by the military of the two countries. In various countries in Africa, Chinese peacekeepers have built a cordial and equal relationship with local residents, winning their trust and respect.
The Chinese military has traditionally fostered a close relationship with the people, and so it does in peacekeeping operations. While staying out of local politics, Chinese peacekeepers throw themselves into post-war rebuilding in host countries, contributing substantially to local social and economic development. The Chinese medical team in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, carried out an aid campaign for local hard-up primary schools, sanitizing public spaces and handing out free medicines. The operation was covered by the local TV station. They also initiated a partnership with an SOS children's village, which has been renewed with the rotation of garrisons.
After the Ebola outbreak in Africa in 2014, Chinese peacekeepers in Liberia raced against time to build an Ebola treatment center, working more than 16 hours every day and completing the facility one month ahead of schedule. It was the first of its kind built by foreign aid in the country. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf lauded Chinese peacekeepers as the emissary of friendship from the Chinese people and army.
UN recognition
Chinese peacekeepers put their lives on the line during their assignment to conflict zones, igniting the hope of life amid the dead of war. To date, 10 of them have been killed on duty.
According to the Peacekeeping Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense, since 1990, Chinese peacekeepers have built and repaired roads totaling more than 11,000 km and 300-plus bridges, disposed of 9,400 land mines and other explosive devices, received 149,000 patients (person-times), and transported 1.1 million tons of supplies over a total distance of 12 million kilometers, equivalent to circumnavigating the earth 300 times.
On August 28, 2007, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Major-General Zhao Jingmin new Force Commander of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Western Sahara, making him the first Chinese senior commander in a UN peacekeeping mission. The move was seen as recognition by the organization of China's active role in international mediation and as a testament to the competence of Chinese military staff.
Towards the end of Zhao's term in April 2011, Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye, military adviser for UN peacekeeping operations, wrote a letter of commendation, saying that Zhao had displayed outstanding leadership and profound understanding of local conditions during his years on the job. He highlighted Zhao's aptitude for communication and cooperation with conflicting parties, which successfully reduced their violations of ceasefire pacts from 966 occasions in 2007 to 84 in 2010.
Following these examples, more Chinese officers are donning the blue helmet and taking the solemn pledge to defend world peace with their lives. A staunch supporter and active participant of UN peacekeeping missions, China will continue to perform its duty to the well-being of humankind.
(Courtesy: China Today)
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