Chinese peace: Untold stories on the ground in South Sudan

Chinese peacekeepers: great professionalism and people-centred approach

China contributes to the security and stability of South Sudan through its contribution of peacekeepers to the UN mission. China currently is the 10th highest provider of the peacekeepers on the ground and China has consecutively deployed its peacekeeping infantry battalions to South Sudan since 2015. In March 2019, there was 1067 Chinese UN peacekeeping personnel deployed to South Sudan, including 1031 contingent troops, five experts on mission, 12 individual police officers and 19 staff officers.

Recently, the fifth Chinese infantry battalion was dispatched to South Sudan, and almost 20% of them have prior peacekeeping experience. Chinese peacekeepers are perceived as dedicated to their work, professional, and highly disciplined. “I have worked very closely with them and they have continuously shown great professionalism and dedication in their work here at UNMISS and South Sudan,” said a senior official of the UNMISS.

Top Ten Troop Contributors in UNMISS as of March 2019

In addition to guarding the UN’s POC sites, Chinese peacekeepers also help build roads and provide long distance patrolling in order to benefit mass civilians in South Sudan. I also find one police station in Wau is named after a Chinese peacekeeping police officer Sun Dongxing. Officer Sun collected money and helped rebuilt this police station which was in charge of the safety of all the people in the area. He also provided capacity trainings to the local police. To honor and thank him as well as all the Chinese peacekeeping police for their contribution to the peace and development of the region, the head of the police department of the state came to the station by himself and show his appreciation. It is the first and only local police institution in Africa named after a Chinese police officer. One businessman from Wau even names his son “Dongxing”. He wishes his son the best and in his mind Dongxing stands for a peaceful and prosperous future.

With the well-constructed work place and competent police, the local public order and personal security will also be protected in a sustainable way after the UN peacekeepers leave the country. As a Chinese old proverb says, it's better to teach a man fishing than to give him fish alone. In the latest reform on the UN Peace Operations, it is reiterated on the significance to include the local counterpart and empower them through capacity building. Chinese peacekeepers have actively engaged with the communities and spared no effort to bring a sustainable peace to South Sudan.