China's top brass shines with UN peacekeeping force
Major General Zhao Jingmin, force commander of the United Nations' mission for the referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), says that his post shows the UN's recognition of China's outstanding contributions to international peacekeeping efforts.
China has participated in 17 UN peacekeeping operations, including 8,883 military personnel, since 1990, when five military observers became part of a UN peacekeeping force. "China got the opportunity to compete for a senior post in the peacekeeping force thanks to the UN's recognition of China's prominent contributions to peacekeeping missions," Zhao says.
Currently there are 1,648 Chinese officers and men stationed in 10 mission areas. China now provides the largest number of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, he adds.
There are 13 Chinese observers with MINURSO and they all won UN peacekeeping medals after three months of service because of their outstanding performances. Two of them were promoted to become captains of their squads. These posts require not only good performances in examinations, but also approval and trust from their fellow soldiers and former officers.
Zhao, however, says though there are more Chinese officers in middle- and high-ranking posts for UN missions, the ratio is still lower than those from other major world powers. This is incompatible with China's active participation in UN affairs and contributions to peacekeeping operations, he says.
The Major General says he hopes China will participate more in the discussion, decision-making and implementation of UN peacekeeping missions.
Born in 1954, Zhao joined the People's Liberation Army in 1970 and has held senior posts in the Office of Peacekeeping Affairs in China's National Defense Ministry since 2003. He has previously served in MINURSO as a military observer, from September 1991 to June 1992, and as a liaison officer with the UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission in 1996-97.
Xinhua
(China Daily 12/21/2007 page20)
