China News Service, Beijing, October 25th. Title: Interview with the former deputy commander of the United Nations peacekeeping theater: the three colors of Chinese peacekeepers
China News Agency reporter Li Jingze
Wearing peace blue on the head, wearing camouflage green, and arms with Chinese red, the three main colors of blue, green and red have become the distinguishing signs of Chinese peacekeepers.
It coincides with the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the legal seat of the United Nations by the People’s Republic of China. He served as the deputy commander and chief of staff of the Southern Theater Command of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, and Professor Lu Jianxin of the School of International Relations of the National University of Defense Technology of China is telling reporters from China News Agency about his peacekeeping. During the experience, he also used three colors to depict the Chinese peacekeepers in his eyes.
Blue, the color of the helmets and berets of Chinese peacekeepers, and the background color of the United Nations flag.
The participation of the Chinese military in United Nations peacekeeping operations stems from the Chinese nation’s genes for peace, from the Chinese people’s national sentiments, from the fundamental purpose of the People’s Army, and from China’s responsibility as a great power.
Wearing blue helmets and blue berets means using actions to firmly defend and uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
Lu Jianxin pointed out that peacekeeping operations should be carried out in accordance with the rules of engagement and operating procedures of the United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Back then, in order to maintain international peace and security, the UN Charter established a series of principles for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
These principles are embodied in three main points in peacekeeping operations: the consent of the country concerned, neutrality and impartiality, and non-use of force (except for self-defense and defense missions).
“The Chinese peacekeepers strictly abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in their operations, which not only reflects China’s active support for the international system with the UN at its core as a responsible power, but also the support of the governments and peoples of conflicting countries and other troops. The cooperation of the national forces plays a vital role in the successful completion of peacekeeping missions." Lu Jianxin said.
Adhering to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter was also included in the white paper "The Chinese Army has participated in UN peacekeeping operations for 30 years" on the occasion of the 30-year participation of the Chinese Army in UN peacekeeping operations.
This white paper is the first time that China has announced to the outside system the policy stance of the Chinese military to participate in UN peacekeeping operations. Through this important document, China once again affirms that the Chinese military will march for world peace.
Speaking of the peace answer sheet that China handed over to the world, Lu Jianxin, the leader of the white paper's research group, said excitedly: "The moment it was released, it was a'highlight moment' for all peacekeeping officers and soldiers."
Green, the color of the uniforms of Chinese peacekeepers, the true colors of Chinese soldiers.
When the camouflage green meets the peace blue, China has demonstrated its excellent military quality in peacekeeping operations, and won the trust of the officers and soldiers of other countries and the people stationed in the country.
"The Chinese peacekeeping force is not only well-equipped, superb, and efficient, but also a model of work style and discipline." In Lu Jianxin's view, the Chinese peacekeepers have fully demonstrated to the outside world the true qualities they have accumulated over the years.
All this is inseparable from the hard training in the country.
Lu Jianxin and his team are undertaking the task of training UN military observers.
The National University of Defense Technology is the nation's earliest and the only military academy to undertake comprehensive peacekeeping training missions. Over the past 30 years, more than 5,000 peacekeeping officers have moved from here to the frontline of peacekeeping operations.
During the training, the peacekeepers realized the transition from camouflage green to peaceful blue through comprehensive learning from language to action subjects, from uniform rules to regional customs.
"Peacekeeping classrooms must be directly connected to the peacekeeping battlefield. Every trick must be targeted at actual combat training, and there must be no fancy." Lu Jianxin attaches great importance to the connection between the course design and the real peacekeeping operations of the United Nations. In the peacekeeping mission area, he was responsible for the first presidential election in Sudan, etc. During the security operations during the large-scale activities, I know that a little more effort by the soldiers means more security in the peacekeeping operations.
Red, the color of the armband of the Chinese peacekeepers, and the background color of the Chinese flag.
The Chinese peacekeepers representing the motherland have allowed more people to understand China and remember the Chinese flag.
In peacekeeping mission areas where resources are scarce and wars are raging, Chinese soldiers use flesh and blood to build a line of defense for the local people, and they also use actions to bring many surprises outside the peacekeeping mission to the local people.
According to Lu Jianxin, for more than 30 years, Chinese peacekeepers and soldiers have not only completed the peacekeeping tasks assigned by the United Nations, but also built roads, airports, and bridges for the local people, and played a long-term role in the recovery and reconstruction of the host country after the conflict.
While ensuring the health of peacekeepers, the Chinese peacekeeping medical team also provides medical services to the local people. During the Ebola and new crown pneumonia epidemics, the local people were taught and popularized medical and disease prevention knowledge; the engineering team often leveled the local school in the mission area The playground provides cultural and sports supplies; water sources are extremely precious in Africa. The well-drilling team finds water sources for the local people and solves their drinking water difficulties... The Chinese soldiers solved the drinking water problem for the local people and brought things more precious than water— -Hope and confidence in survival.
"The villagers have a very good attitude towards the soldiers." Lu Jianxin said that every time they went out to patrol through the village, many people would quickly run to the side of the road, give a thumbs up, and greet the soldiers.
They couldn't call the soldiers' names, but they recognized the Chinese red on the soldiers' arms. They would say "Hello, China", which may not be standard, but it became the warmest memory in the hearts of Chinese soldiers.
This kind of warmth continued and gathered into a deep friendship between nations.
While bringing more confidence and hope to the peaceful development of conflict areas, the Chinese military in the new era has become a key factor and key force in UN peacekeeping operations.
In more than 30 years, China has dispatched nearly 50,000 peacekeepers to more than 20 countries and regions.
The composition of the peacekeeping force has expanded from a single service to multiple services and arms, the mission type has been transformed from support and support to comprehensive and multi-functional, and the operational objectives have extended from stopping armed conflicts to building lasting peace.
Lu Jianxin believes that in the face of the spread of the new crown epidemic and the increasingly complex security situation, Chinese peacekeeping forces will play a more important role. Peace blue, camouflage green, and China red will contribute more to paving the road to world peace. strength.
(over)