CIAO DATE: 05/2009
April 2009
China’s participation in UN peacekeeping has grown considerably, providing not only much-needed personnel, but also vital political support at a time when both conflicts and peacekeeping operations are becoming more complex. China’s Growing Role in UN Peacekeeping, the latest report from the International Crisis Group, examines China’s increasing role in UN peacekeeping, taking into account the advantages its participation represents. China now has over 2,000 peacekeepers serving in ten UN peacekeeping operations, making it the second largest provider of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. China does not currently provide combat troops, but its civilian police, military observers, engineering battalions and medical units fill a key gap. There are some concerns, however. In several cases, China has sent peacekeepers only after giving support to actors that aggravated the situation. And China’s relationships with problem regimes in the developing world have fed suspicions that its peacekeeping is motivated by economic interests. In fact, China’s economic and peacekeeping decision-making tracks operate separately, and tensions between the foreign affairs ministry, military and economic actors mean there is no overall strategic approach to peacekeeping.
Resource link: China's Growing Role in UN Peacekeeping [PDF] - 1.4M