Poverty , Peace , and China : PKSOI and World Bank Perspectives
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Poverty , Peace , and China : PKSOI and World Bank Perspectives
China has come a long way
In the early 2000s , China began to expand its economic and diplomatic influence overseas through international organizations . In particular , peacekeeping operations were tapped to demonstrate China ’ s commitment to peaceful development as “ a responsible power .” 27
Initially , China ’ s attitude toward peacekeeping was largely determined by its strategic policy towards Taiwan . It viewed foreign recognition of Taiwan as a challenge to its “ one China ” principle and in the nineties vetoed several peacekeeping operations in countries that maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan . In 2003 , China again appeared ready to veto the U . N . Observer Mission mandate in Liberia . After Liberia ’ s break from Taiwan , however , China authorized UN peacekeeping operations and dispatched peacekeepers to assist in that country ’ s reconstruction . By 2005 , China ’ s deployment in Liberia hit almost 600 . 28
In 2004 , China showed greater flexibility in its peacekeeping commitment . That year , it dispatched peacekeepers to Haiti , despite Haiti ’ s continued recognition of Taiwan . Evidence so far points to continued flexibility on the part of Chinese leadership in peacekeeping without tying it to such policy considerations .
China and Mali
China ’ s announced deployment of UN peacekeepers to Mali this July includes a large combat contingent for the first time . 29 Once avoiding such missions , China has committed to deploy 500 combat troops for the force protection of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali ( MINUSMA ). This constitutes one of China ’ s largest UN deployments since it began participating in peacekeeping operations in the early 1990s . The Security Council , which unanimously approved a force of 12,640 peacekeepers for Mali in April of this year , decided that security conditions were right for the overall mission ’ s deployment beginning on July 1 , 2013 . 30
China ’ s decision to participate in Mali indicates it is becoming less risk-averse in its peacekeeping commitments by shouldering a combat responsibility in a potentially dangerous peace mission .
While China continues to refuse to deploy in the absence of host-country consent and has studiously avoided participating in “ all-in ,” decisive actions in favor of a particular side , it also remains wedded to using force only in self-defense and as a last resort . China ’ s adherence to these principles in peacekeeping operations has been firm . The UN mission ’ s rules of engagement for force protection of MINUSMA facilities will allow China to maintain these principles . PKOSI looks forward to China ’ s continuing commitment to peacekeeping responsibilities in the future and to sharing lessons learned on this and other operational aspects as we engage with China in the future .
Notes :
1
United Nations Development Program Website , http :// www . undp . org / content / undp / en / home / mdgoverview / mdg _ goals / mdg1 / ( accessed August 20 , 2013 ).
2
See the Guardian ’ s poverty matters blog article , “ How progressive is the push to eradicate extreme poverty ?,” for a detailed treatment of China ’ s push to eliminate extreme poverty . Website : http :// www . theguardian . com / global-development / poverty-matters / 2013 / jun / 07 / eradicating-poverty-shift-in-focus
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