Seventeen officers from China's 11th Formed Police Unit left Wednesday for South Sudan, stepping into what the UN calls one of the world's most dangerous missions. With extreme climates, armed groups and disease outbreaks, South Sudan tests the limits of peacekeeping forces.
Duty, Training and Impact
This year, as the UN marks its 80th anniversary and China celebrates 25 years of sending police to UN operations, the new team brings specialized skills in English, shooting and crisis management. Over a 12-month rotation, they'll secure refugee camps, patrol volatile neighborhoods and help quash riots or community violence in hotspots like Juba and Wau.
Beyond Security: Humanitarian Roles
On top of patrols, the unit supports humanitarian tasks—distributing food, delivering aid and evacuating civilians caught in conflicts. Some officers also join special operations, from dismantling drug networks to rescuing hostages and seizing illegal weapons.
Global Recognition
China, the UN Security Council's second-largest contributor to peacekeeping, sees this deployment as part of its Global Security Initiative. So far, Chinese teams have maintained 'zero complaints, zero repatriations' and earned UN Peace Medals for professionalism and commitment to global stability.
The send-off ceremony in Beijing was an emotional moment, with family members bidding farewell to heroes embarking on one of the UN's toughest assignments.
Reference(s):
China to dispatch new batch of UN peacekeepers to South Sudan
cgtn.com
