China's Participation In Un Peacekeeping Operations

The peacekeeping operation is a great creation as to the UN functions of maintaining world peace and security. Over half a century, the UN peacekeeping operations have contributed immensely to the conflicts settlement and world peace, and will continue its role into the new century. China, as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, assumes special responsibilities to international peace and security. For some reasons that are known to all, China is a latecomer in this area. Since 1990 when it first participated in the operations in real sense, China has become more and more involved. This demonstrates the changes that have taken place in China itself and its relations with international systems. As a rising power, China will play more important role in the peacekeeping operations.This paper first of all analyzes the definition, meaning and legal basis of UN peacekeeping operations. The focus is also concentrated on the discussion of issues derived from intervention in internal affairs during the second-generation operations-relation between peacekeeping operations and national sovereignty, humanitarian intervention and the principles underlying peacekeeping operations. It moves to look back on and analyze the history of China's involvement in the operations. Built on this, the paper attempts to construct the theoretical guidelines of China's participation in peacekeeping operations, which serve the "peaceful rise" of China. Finally, in light of the status quo of UN peace-keeping and China's national circumstances, this paper offers several policy suggestions as to China's participation in peace-keeping, which can be helpful to China in this respect.