| ID | 179361 |
| Title Proper | China’s expanding role in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Arya, Shailender |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | For much of the Cold War period, China was highly sceptical of the concept of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping, viewing it as a thinly veiled disguise for imperialist interventions by the great powers. Further, Deng Xiaoping’s 24 character strategy which stressed on keeping a low profile had guided China’s foreign policy for over two decades. All this has changed under Xi Jinping, wherein UN peacekeeping was identified as a relatively low-risk vehicle to gain global prominence. Consequently, from total opposition to the role of UN itself, China has now transformed as a champion of UN peacekeeping. Today, China provides the 10th largest troop contribution and Beijing is the UN peacekeeping programme’s second largest funder, providing 15 percent of the program’s overall budget. In fact, China provides more personnel to peacekeeping operations than any other permanent member of the Security Council, and has almost twice as many as the other four permanent members combined. This has provided China with global acceptability, significant clout in Africa, and helps to foster China’s image as the leader of the developing world. However, the Chinese intensions are anything but benign. A ‘Wolf Warrior’ diplomacy is on the increase, the Chinese peacekeeping efforts are intertwined with Chinese economic interests, and the overall aim seems to expand Chinese influence across the world. |
| `In' analytical Note | USI Journal Vol. 151, No.623; Jan-Mar 2021: p.101-113 |
| Journal Source | USI Journal 2021-03 151, 623 |
| Key Words | Diplomacy ; China ; United Nations Peacekeeping ; Foreign Policy |