BEIJING: In the same year that China celebrates the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, 700 of its soldiers stationed over 8,000 kilometers away from the motherland in South Sudan have been awarded for their contributions to the cause of world peace.
The soldiers of the 10th Chinese Peacekeeping Infantry Battalion in Juba, South Sudan, were awarded the United Nations Peace Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the Chinese camp of the UN Mission in South Sudan last month. At the entrance of the camp, two flags are prominently displayed: the red National Flag of China and the blue flag of the UN. An accompanying banner in Chinese read: “Fulfilling the responsibility of a major power, upholding the mission of peace.”
According to China’s Ministry of National Defense, since the battalion’s deployment last December, it has completed over 150 mandated tasks under the UN mission’s command, including security duties, armed patrols and emergency response operations.
It has also actively engaged in humanitarian aid activities such as medical outreach, donating over 10,000 items of humanitarian aid materials locally.
Li Jian, a peacekeeper in the battalion, said that although their mission was coming to an end, the mission of maintaining world peace is ongoing.
“We will remember our original intentions, cherish our honor, and continue to uphold our positions with the highest standards to bring this peacekeeping mission to a successful conclusion, never failing the trust of our country and people,” he told China Media Group.
Li is just one of nearly 2,000 Chinese soldiers currently participating in UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.
Zhang Junshe, a former researcher at the People’s Liberation Army’s Naval Research Academy, said that over the past 30 years, China’s involvement in UN peacekeeping operations has demonstrated its commitment as a responsible major power, and its determination and desire to maintain world peace. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
