China’s military: Beijing promises more troops for UN peacekeeping missions

PLA will ‘continue to build the 8,000-troop peacekeeping standby force and maintain a high level of preparedness’, white paper says

Document released as military marks 30 years of engagement on UN peacekeeping missions

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Chinese troops, like these pictured in South Sudan in 2016, have been taking part in UN peacekeeping missions for 30 years. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:30pm, 18 Sep 2020Updated: 10:26pm, 18 Sep 2020

China says it will increase the number of troops it provides for United Nations peacekeeping missions, as the People’s Liberation Army marks 30 years of involvement in such operations.

The PLA would “continue to build the 8,000-troop peacekeeping standby force and maintain a high level of preparedness,” according to a white paper released on Friday titled: “China’s Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operations”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping promised in 2015 to create a standby force of 8,000 peacekeepers, of which about 2,500 are currently on active duty.

China provides more peacekeeping troops to the global organisation than any other permanent member of the UN Security Council, and is also its second-largest contributor in financial terms.

The paper, released by the State Council Information Office, said the PLA would also provide ships, rapid response units and other capabilities, if required.

Since 1990, more than 40,000 PLA soldiers had taken part in dozens of UN peacekeeping missions in over 20 countries, including Cambodia, Liberia, Sudan, Lebanon, Cyprus, Mali and the Central African Republic, it said.

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