February 10, 2003
The Chinese military announced plans Monday to deploy more than 200 engineers and medics on a U.N. peacekeeping mission to Congo."These troops are ready to go," senior Col. Dai Shao'an, deputy director of the Office of Peacekeeping Affairs, said at a news conference at the base of the People's Liberation Army's 41st Brigade.
Among the main missions of the 175 engineers and 43 medics will be operating a hospital, maintaining airports and building roads, barracks and bridges, Dai said. He said they would depart sometime in March.
From the display Monday, it seemed clear that China was taking pains to showcase its desire to play a larger role in peacekeeping: A military band welcomed tour buses loaded with foreign journalists who were brought to the base, about 90 minutes hours north of Beijing.About 55 vehicles including trucks and ambulances were arranged around a square, bearing the initials "U.N." in black. About 100 soldiers ran out from a nearby building, formed a tight block and stood at attention.
"This mission is for the peace of the world and for people who care about peace. It's a great opportunity for China," said Sgt. 2nd Class Li Qiang from Hubei, a northern province. "I'm very honored to be part of this.
"Despite its permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, Beijing did not take part in peacekeeping missions until 1989. Its first large-scale contribution was 800 military engineers sent to Cambodia in 1992-94.
It has since sent about 1,400 peacekeepers to operations in Iraq, Kuwait, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Dai said.Altogether, Dai said, more than 600 troops have been trained for peacekeeping, including a 525-member engineering battalion, 35 medical personnel and two transportation companies totaling about 160 troops.He stressed that China strictly adheres to the principle of noninterference in host countries.
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