Over the past twenty years China has become an active participant in UN peacekeeping. Whilst its financial support for peacekeeping remains modest, it is the second largest provider of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
China’s expanded role in peacekeeping is welcomed by the UN and many countries, however there are some concerns. China’s support for problem regimes in the developing world has fed suspicions that Chinese peacekeeping is primarily motivated by economic interests. At the same time though, China’s relationships with difficult regimes may well benefit UN peacekeeping efforts. China can bring to the table valuable political capital and economic leverage, in some cases even encouraging host countries to consent to peacekeeping operations, as seen in Sudan.
China’s growing role is helping to fill the growing shortfall in capacity and resources. The lack of available and qualified police for peacekeeping is one area in which China is already making a significant contribution.
Recommendations:
To the Government of the People’s Republic of China:
- Ensure political support to UN peacekeeping, by playing a more active role in responding to contemporary peacekeeping challenges, both in terms of the continuing development of UN peacekeeping doctrine in the Security Council and the development and review of specific UN peacekeeping mandates.
- Take a more strategic rather than reactive approach to peacekeeping on the Security Council, supporting earlier and more effective intervention.
- Increase significantly financial, material and personnel contributions to UN peacekeeping.
- Enhance regional and international cooperation and sharing of expertise on peacekeeping training for police, combat troops and non-combat troops, including with regard to language training.
- Encourage cooperation and joint programming between the Civilian Peacekeeping Police Training Centre in Langfang and the People’s Liberation Army Peacekeeping Training Centre in Huairou. Establish a dedicated peacekeeping affairs office under the bureau of international organisations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for the purpose of developing and coordinating peacekeeping policy, and managing communication between relevant government bodies and between Beijing and the permanent mission to the UN in New York.
To the United Nations Secretariat:
- Encourage China to increase its military and police personnel contributions to UN peacekeeping operations and to discuss modalities of increased participation.
- Identify gaps or problems in peacekeeping missions that China’s troop deployments or material contributions can solve, as its deployment of noncombat units has already done.
- Provide technical assistance to enhance Chinese peacekeeping training and capacity, and identify potential bilateral partners to provide such assistance.
- Encourage the application of qualified Chinese military, police and civilian officials for positions at all levels in UN peacekeeping missions and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).
To United Nations Member States:
- Western member states should reaffirm political and practical commitments to peacekeeping to bring them into line with financial commitments, paying particular attention to troop and police contributions, leading by example in their encouragement of China’s efforts.
- Publicly ask China to increase its military and police personnel contributions to UN peacekeeping operations. Consult regularly with China at the highest level on conflict situations and areas of shared strategic concern, and ways in which peacekeeping missions can achieve common goals in those areas.
- Enhance peacekeeping-related assistance to China, including military-to-military exchanges and language training programs for peacekeeping personnel.
