Show the world the determination and ability of Chinese soldiers to defend peace
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Peace is the common expectation of mankind and the unremitting pursuit of the Chinese military.
From the time when five Chinese soldiers went to the UN Truce Supervision Organization to serve as military observers in 1990, the Chinese army has been associated with UN peacekeeping operations for 30 years.
Over the past 30 years, the Chinese military has provided more and more support for UN peacekeeping operations, sending peacekeeping forces from the initial military observers to engineering units, medical units, transportation units, guard units, infantry battalions, helicopter units, etc.
At present, the Chinese military has participated in 25 UN peacekeeping operations and has dispatched more than 40,000 peacekeeping officers and soldiers.
Over the past 30 years, China’s Blue Helmets have shouldered the responsibility of the military of the great powers and defended the glory of Chinese soldiers. They have successfully completed road repairs, minefield clearance, material transportation, medical rescue, and rescue operations amidst the smoke-filled war, crisis-ridden environment, and harsh conditions. Tasks such as armed patrols and the protection of civilians have made outstanding contributions to maintaining world peace and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Starting today, this newspaper has launched the "30 Years of Peaceful Footprints of China's Blue Helmets" column, looking back on the glorious history of the Chinese military's participation in UN peacekeeping operations, demonstrating the firm determination of Chinese soldiers to maintain world peace.
In April 1990, four comrades, Chen Maolin, Pang Yandong, Xu Jinxian, and Geng Weilin, and I went to the UN Truce Supervision Organization as military observers.
The moment we boarded the plane to Damascus, it opened the prelude to the Chinese army's participation in the UN peacekeeping operation.
As a witness and witness of "China Red" and "Peace Blue", I am very proud.
Now, 30 years later, this history-making experience is still a precious memory in my heart.
The UN Truce Supervision Organization was founded in 1948. After decades of development, the organization has set up 6 observation groups and 4 liaison offices in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel, with observers from 19 countries.
After the five of us arrived, we were divided into two groups. Chen Maolin and Geng Weilin and I were divided into the Egyptian observation group, mainly to perform tasks such as garrisoning posts, patrolling, and supervising the ceasefire in the Sinai Peninsula; Pang Yandong and Xu Jinxian went to the Damascus observation group in Syria , Is mainly responsible for providing administrative and logistical support for the observers stationed in the Golan Heights. The two groups will rotate after half a year.
The Egyptian Observer Group has 6 outposts in various positions on the Sinai Peninsula.
The local natural conditions are complex, the road network is badly damaged, the weather in the endless desert is bad, and several Middle East wars have left about 1 million landmines on this land.
The first time I followed a senior observer on a patrol near St. Catherine's post, I felt the risk of this task.
Along the way, we passed through hills, ravines, slopes and other topography, and the difficulty of driving can be imagined.
On both sides of the road, you can see anti-tank mines half-exposed to the ground from time to time. If they stray into the minefield, the consequences will be disastrous.
I was told that only by walking along the ruts and comparing them with the special markers drawn on the sketches, the safety can be maximized.
However, this method is not necessarily reliable, because frequent sandstorms and floods will disappear the ruts and change the topography to varying degrees.
On May 27, 1990, my first solo patrol was unforgettable.
On the same day, I was ordered to patrol along Route 4-1 of Arish Outpost.
This highway has long been cut into sections by floods. To complete the patrol, it must go into the desert and make a detour.
However, shortly after entering the desert, the rut ahead disappeared.
I made up my mind to complete the task no matter whether there is a way or not.
After using the map, the compass and the distant mountains to determine the approximate direction, I continued to drive forward. I encountered two suspected minefields and fine sand belts on the road. The worries of mine strikes and car trapped made me nervous... Fortunately, I finally managed to cross the desert.
Later, I learned that this patrol line had disoriented many observers.
After repeated experience, I quickly mastered the essentials of patrol and the full set of procedures for post work.
In less than two months, I went from an intern observer to a senior observer in charge of leading classes at the post.
At that time, this set a record for the promotion speed of observers of the UN Truce Supervision Organization.
After being appointed, a foreign military observer told me: "Because I didn't understand, everyone looked at you critically at the beginning, but you proved the strength of the Chinese military with your actions."
As this foreign military counterpart said, 30 years ago, the level of interaction between the Chinese military and the armed forces of other countries was not comparable to that of today. For the Chinese soldiers at that time, UN peacekeeping operations were a brand new field; for the UN peacekeeping family at that time Generally speaking, Chinese soldiers are also new faces.
Therefore, while completing tasks, the five of us also pay attention to taking advantage of various opportunities to promote exchanges with foreign military counterparts, and to increase trust and resolve doubts in a targeted manner.
For example, military observers from various countries who are stationed in the post need to take turns to cook. When it is our turn, we will carefully prepare and let the foreign military partners taste the Chinese flavor.
Everyone talked while eating, from food to culture, from China to the world, from war to peace.
Over time, we have become good friends with our partners in the post, and they have also deepened their understanding of the Chinese army.
What impresses me is that on September 28, 1990, we held a National Day reception at the Egypt Observer Group. This was the first time that China National Day reception was held in the UN peacekeeping system.
On that day, the atmosphere of the venue was warm and grand, and the albums telling stories of China and introducing the achievements of China's construction aroused great interest from observers from different countries.
I clearly remember that there was a sign pole at St. Catherine's post, which was densely nailed with nameplates with the name and distance of the country, witnessing the efforts of soldiers from all countries for peace.
Before leaving the Sinai Peninsula, I cut a rectangular arrow with the aluminum shell of a can, and wrote "BEIJING CHINA 7500KM" on it. After aligning the arrow in the direction of China, I firmly nailed it to the sign pole, and then faced the motherland. A military salute was solemnly saluted.
At that moment, the Chinese mark remained on the land of the Sinai Peninsula forever, and also in the UN peacekeeping family.
In a blink of an eye, the one-year term was over, and the five of us had all excellent results in various assessments.
The Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization Christieson personally awarded us the United Nations Medal of Honor for Peace.
This year, we learned about foreign military forces, made friends, and explored experience for our military's follow-up participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
More importantly, we use our actions to prove to the world that Chinese soldiers are determined and capable of fulfilling the sacred mission of defending world peace.