Chinese peacekeeping forces in South Sudan encounter armed conflicts

The long-distance armed patrol team of an infantry battalion of Chinese peacekeeping forces in South Sudan has recently encountered several intense armed conflicts around its temporary operational base, People's Daily Online reported on Oct.7, 2015.

The temporary operational base of the Chinese peacekeepers is located deep in the forests of Western Equatorial State. Since incidents of armed conflict take place frequently in the surrounding area, these soldiers now face a severe security situation.

Early on the fourth day stationed at the temporary operational base, gunshots were heard to the southeast of the base, with tracer fire flying over the treetops. According to the soldiers at the outposts, dozens of armed local militants launched a fierce attack towards South Sudanese government troops stationed nearby. 

Facing this unexpected situation, Chinese peacekeepers hurried to their battle stations in the existing defense works and armored vehicles. The two sides of the conflict were the local government troops and a team of unidentified militants. The camp of government troops was only 500 meters away from the Chinese peacekeepers. 

After around 3 hours of intense battle between the militants and government troops, the unidentified militants had moved to within just 10 meters of the peacekeepers' base. To avoid become involved in direct combat, the peacekeepers hailed the militants through loudspeakers, warning them to stop their fire. Shocked by the peacekeepers' intervention, the battle gradually stopped. However, sporadic gunshots and hovering attack helicopters overhead reminded the peacekeepers that the fight was not over. 

"This was the second time that we have encountered such conflicts and we haven't received any notification about the situation. We will continue to face severe security threats in the following days," said Liu Yong, the vice battalion commander.