China's 175-member engineering brigade and 43-member medical team
are now on 24-hour-call for their United Nations (UN) peacekeeping
mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"All preparations have been made. We're now waiting for notice from
UN," said Dai Shao'an, deputy director of Office of Peacekeeping
Affairs under the Ministry of National Defense.
Dai did not give out the Chinese peacekeepers' exact departure
time, but he said that it would be "very soon."
The Chinese peacekeepers will concentrate on helping rebuild the
war-shattered country, providing medical aid and building airports,
roads and other infrastructure projects, according to Dai.
Since it first sent military observers to UN peacekeeping
activities in 1990, the People's Liberation Army has taken part in
10 UN peacekeeping operations.
So
far it has sent more than 650 military observers, liaison officers,
advisers or staff officers and 800 engineering officers and
soldiers to UN peacekeeping operations, said a source at the
Ministry of National Defense.
Four Chinese servicemen have lost their lives, and dozens have been
wounded in UN peacekeeping operations.
Currently, 53 Chinese military observers are serving in six
regions, and two staff officers are working at the UN peacekeeping
department.
Dai said that, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council,
China has always valued and supported the UN in its efforts to play
a positive role in safeguarding international peace and security
under the guidance of the purpose and principles of the UN
Charter.
He
stressed the leading role of UN Security Council in peacekeeping,
noting that when carrying out peacekeeping missions, the principles
of UN charter should be continuously observed.
China maintains that peacekeeping is an important means, but not
the only way to resolve conflicts, Dai said.
"Attention should be paid to the elimination of the roots of
conflicts and seeking a comprehensive settlement to the problems,"
Dai said.
When taking part in peacekeeping operations, China strictly adheres
to the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of the
host country and does not involve itself in any conflicts
there.
"We should ensure that our deployment is welcomed by local people,"
Dai said.
China has always played an active role in peacekeeping operations,
and this has been praised by both the UN and host countries
alike.
On
a visit to China late last year, UN Under-Secretary-General
Jean-Marie Guehenno praised Chinese peacekeeping personnel for
their self-motivation, self-discipline and specialized
training.
Last January, China formally participated in the Class-A standby
arrangements mechanism for UN peacekeeping operations, and it is
ready to provide UN peacekeeping operations with engineering,
medical, transportation and other logistical support teams at
appropriate times.
"If the UN and host regions' people make further requests, we will
also actively take other operations into consideration," Dai said,
noting the key point is that all these efforts should benefit
regional peace and stability.
(China Daily January 25, 2003)