The eight Chinese peacekeepers killed in last Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti were well aware that peacekeeping is a dangerous job. They had been trained to deal with civil unrest, tropical diseases and natural disasters. As they were meeting officials at the headquarters of the UN Stabilisation Mission in Port-au-Prince, the tremor struck, taking their lives and those of dozens, perhaps hundreds, of UN staff. Their loss is a tragedy for their families and China, and highlights the everyday realities of the blue-helmeted men and women who strive to bring peace and stability to our troubled world.

Taking on such a role is no insignificant task. It requires dedication and determination. Being posted to a peacekeeping mission inevitably means going to a far-flung and troubled part of the world. There is always the possibility that life will be sacrificed.

Ministry of Public Security officials Zhu Xiaoping, Guo Baoshan, Wang Shulin and Li Xiaoming and peacekeepers Zhao Huayu, Li Qin, Zhong Jianqin and He Zhihong made that ultimate sacrifice. They were imbued with the spirit of humanitarianism and had a faith in peace. Those same basic principles drive their 134 Chinese colleagues in Haiti, the 9,100 other international peacekeepers and the teams of rescuers and aid workers helping the millions of victims of the quake. Their efforts will always be remembered.