China and UN peacekeeping operations

Photo taken on Nov 8, 2017 shows Chinese peacekeepers working at a minefield near the UN demarcated "Blue Line" in southern Lebanon. [Photo/Xinhua]

Over the past 30 years, China has dispatched over 40,000 peacekeepers to 25 operations. Sixteen Chinese military peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives for the noble cause of peace. The Chinese peacekeepers are highly commended by the UN and host countries for their strict discipline and professionalism.

With more than 2,500 peacekeepers on duty as of August 2020, China is the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

In September 2017, China completed the registration of a UN peacekeeping standby force of 8,000 troops. This force has 28 units in ten categories - infantry, engineer, transport, medical, force protection, rapid response, helicopter, transport aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and surface ship units.

In addition, in June 2016, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security set up a permanent peacekeeping police squad, the first of its kind in the world.