Members of a Chinese peacekeeping police squad for mission in Liberia in training (File photo)

China has sent 2,609 policemen for United Nations peacekeeping missions so far, dispatching the largest number of peacekeeping personnel among the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

China sent its first peacekeeping force of 15 policemen on January 12, 2000, to East Timor, finishing the “debut” of its UN peacemaking mission.

Seventeen years later, China’s peacekeeping forces have left their footprints in nine countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kosovo, Cyprus, Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Haiti.

The security of a country relies on world security, and it is not supposed to be established on the insecurity of other countries. The comprehensive participation in international police affairs, joint promotion of global security governance, and cooperation to maintain world peace and stability have become an inevitable development of history.

Members of a Chinese peacekeeping police squad for mission in Liberia in training (File photo)

All of the 300 members of China’s standby police force of UN peacekeeping missions have been incorporated into the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System, which means the force is ready to be deployed for overseas peacemaking missions at anytime.

Political instability, warfare, harsh climates, and medicine shortages are routine issues for peacekeeping troops. But these difficulties have never discouraged Chinese peacekeeping troops.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations of the UN, lauded Chinese peacekeeping troops after inspecting a drill of the force at the end of June. He believes that the Chinese force will do well and set an example for future missions.