Chinese troops vitalize UN peacekeeping

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's participation in the UN Peacekeeping Summit, and the 35th anniversary of China's participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

At this intersection of three historical milestones, it is clear for all to see that China has faithfully carried out its noble peacekeeping mission, adhering to the principles of the UN Charter and fulfilling its responsibilities as a major military power. Through its actions, the Chinese military (known as "Chinese Blue Helmets") has made its peacekeeping operations a highlight of UN peacekeeping missions.

Since 1990, China has dispatched more than 50,000 peacekeepers to 25 UN peacekeeping missions across more than 20 countries and regions. From Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Darfur in Sudan, and Western Sahara, Chinese peacekeepers have braved hardships to fulfill their tasks such as ceasefire monitoring, patrolling, mine clearance, disposal of unexploded shells and humanitarian assistance, contributing to peace and stability in those countries.

Among the permanent UN Security Council members, China is the largest troop and second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping missions. In 2024, in particular, China's share of the total assessed contributions was 18.69 percent, more than the combined contributions of the United Kingdom, France and Russia, three other permanent Security Council members.

With China's peacekeeping missions expanding in scale and scope, the structure of its deployed forces has been changing, evolving from individual military observers and staff officers to fully organized units. Its missions, too, have expanded from single engineering units to include engineers, transportation, medical, security, infantry, aviation and rapid-action forces. Chinese officers have also assumed senior roles in UN missions. In February 2019, five Chinese standby peacekeeping units were elevated to level-3 readiness, which helped China fully upgrade its 8,000-strong peacekeeping standby force, the UN's largest and most comprehensive standby force.

At a time of profound global transformation and mounting global challenges, the Chinese military uses Chinese wisdom and solutions to promote peaceful dispute resolution, maintain regional security and support socioeconomic development in the host countries.

At the 2015 UN Peacekeeping Summit, President Xi made six key commitments: establishing a standby peacekeeping force, deploying more support personnel, training peacekeepers from other countries, providing free military aid to the African Union, deployment of first peacekeeping helicopter squad, and allocating part of the China-UN Peace and Development Fund to support peacekeeping operations. All six commitments have been fulfilled over the past decade.

In March 2020, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a China-initiated draft resolution on the safety of peacekeepers, the first resolution of its kind which has played a significant role in protecting peacekeepers.

In September 2020, the State Council Information Office issued a white paper, "China's Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operations", outlining the country's vision and proposals for peacekeeping, including upholding the concept of a shared future for humankind, improving the peacekeeping system, promoting cooperation, strengthening the UN Security Council's mandates, and reducing risks.

Since 2021, China has hosted a series of international peacekeeping events such as the Shared Vision international peacekeeping forum, Shared Destiny joint field exercises, and Shared Mission command post exercise, furthering the development of UN peacekeeping.

President Xi has reiterated at various international forums that UN peacekeeping operations bring confidence to conflict zones and offer hope to the local people. With the clearing of landmines, building of roads, performing of surgeries, and deployment of helicopters, Chinese peacekeepers in South Sudan, Lebanon, Abyei on the border of Sudan and South Sudan and other mission areas have lived up to the expectations of the Chinese leadership. With their exceptional professionalism, strong performance, a tenacious spirit and exemplary conduct, they have earned widespread praise.

Over the past 35 years, Chinese peacekeepers have built or repaired more than 17,000 kilometers of roads and over 300 bridges, cleared more than 14,000 mines and unexploded shells, transported over 1.2 million tons of supplies across more than 13 million km, and provided medical treatment to nearly 300,000 people. They have fulfilled their tasks — from building camps and deploying personnel to patrolling, providing armed escorts, inspecting refugee camps, monitoring ceasefire, and negotiating — under extremely harsh conditions, with 17 Chinese peacekeepers making the ultimate sacrifice.

Chinese troops on UN peacekeeping missions have shown exemplary tenacity and courage in defending peace, thus enhancing China's international image. In July 2024, during an event organized by China's Permanent Mission to the UN to observe the 97th anniversary of the formation of the People's Liberation Army, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN undersecretary-general for peace operations, lauded the Chinese troops for their steadfast support to UN peacekeeping amid growing challenges, as well as their professionalism and dedication.

As new concepts and paradigms, such as intelligent and tech-enabled peacekeeping, emerge and evolve, China's peacekeeping operations will become more efficient, broaden in scope and have a greater impact on the UN's overall peacekeeping mission. China remains committed to fulfilling its responsibilities as a major power, promoting cooperation and exchanges in peacekeeping, and helping build a community with a shared future for humankind.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

The author is an associate professor at the National Defense University.