China will send combat troops in Mali for a peacekeeping mission 2806133

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Defence & Security News - China

 
 
Friday, June 28, 2013 10:51 AM
 
China will send combat troops in Mali for a peacekeeping mission.
Chinese armed forces will be sent on a peacekeeping mission in the west African country of Mali, the government has said. According to the Chinese Defence Ministry, it is the first time that Chinese armed forces will dispatch its security forces for peacekeeping mission.
     
Chinese armed forces will be sent on a peacekeeping mission in the west African country of Mali, the government has said. According to the Chinese Defence Ministry, it is the first time that Chinese armed forces will dispatch its security forces for peacekeeping mission.
Chinese peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon participate in a minesweeping mission.
     

At the request of the UN, the Chinese government will dispatch nearly 400 servicemen to join the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), including engineering, medical and guard teams, reported Xinhua citing a Defence Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun on Thursday, June 27, 2013.

The main purpose of the UN peacekeeping forces is to help relevant countries to restore and maintain peace, prevent wars and monitor ceasefires, Yang said, noting that peacekeeping personnel should not be directly involved in military conflicts in host countries.

Replying to a question, Yang said there are no so-called combat forces in UN peacekeeping forces.

"The Chinese security force is actually a guard team that will mainly be responsible for the security of the MINUSMA headquarters and the living areas of peacekeeping forces," he said.