Chinese Military on the World Stage | Twenty Years in Lebanon: China's Blue Helmets Guard Peace Through Hard Work

Twenty Years in Lebanon: China's Blue Helmets Guard Peace Through Hard Work

■ Ma Bo, Qu Fatong

Soldiers of the multi-functional engineer detachment of China's 24th peacekeeping contingent to Lebanon exchange mine-clearance and explosive ordnance disposal experience with Italian peacekeeping counterparts. Photo by Qu Fatong

This year marks the 20th anniversary of China's Blue Helmets deploying to Lebanon for peacekeeping operations. The smoke of the Lebanon-Israel conflict has yet to fully clear, and risks remain. In the mission area of southern Lebanon, Chinese peacekeeping officers and soldiers have held the line for peace without wavering, faithfully fulfilling their responsibilities and obligations.

Since the first Chinese peacekeeping contingent deployed to Lebanon in 2006, more than 8,800 Chinese peacekeeping officers and soldiers have taken up the mission in succession. Over 20 years, China's Blue Helmets have faced the threat of combat without fear, ventured into life-and-death minefields, cumulatively cleared more than 2 million square meters of minefields, destroyed more than 18,000 mines and various types of unexploded ordnance, and repaired 320 kilometers of roads. They have been praised by the United Nations Mine Action Service as "the best demining team." Officers and soldiers have gone deep into local military camps, communities, and schools to carry out humanitarian assistance, cumulatively providing medical treatment to more than 90,000 people, performing more than 2,500 surgical procedures, and donating more than 100,000 items of supplies to protect lives and health. They have been warmly called "the most beloved Eastern friends" by the Lebanese people.

Shebli, principal of Qurela Middle School in Tyre, said: "The Chinese peacekeeping force has taken root in southern Lebanon, protecting the safety of local residents year-round, and has brought stability, security, and hope to this land that has endured the ravages of war."

At the themed event recently held by China's 24th peacekeeping contingent to Lebanon to celebrate the 99th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army and the 20th anniversary of peacekeeping deployment to Lebanon, UNIFIL Force Commander Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz highly affirmed the contributions made by China's peacekeeping forces. He stated that over 20 years, Chinese peacekeeping officers and soldiers have built roads, cleared mines and explosive ordnance, assisted communities, and served the people, earning the trust and respect of the people of southern Lebanon through hard work, and are an indispensable pillar of UNIFIL.

Lebanon has long been known as the "powder keg of the Middle East." The situation in the mission area is volatile and conflicts occur frequently, and peacekeeping missions are often a matter of life and death. Casting our minds back 20 years—on July 25, 2006, Chinese military observer Du Zhaoyu was killed in an airstrike while carrying out his mission at a military observation post at the tri-border junction of Lebanon, Israel, and Syria. Four United Nations military observers, including him, perished, their young lives forever inscribed on this land scarred by war. Twenty years of wind and rain have passed, and the smoke of war has cycled through several times. The oath written in blood and life by Martyr Du Zhaoyu has inspired generation after generation of peacekeeping officers and soldiers to press forward without fear of sacrifice, shouldering their duty with dedication.

On March 30 of this year, an emergency suddenly arose in the mission area: an Indonesian peacekeeping convoy was attacked by an unidentified explosive device, leaving two peacekeeping personnel critically wounded with life-threatening injuries. Upon receiving the rescue order, Zeng Lihong, a military physician with the medical detachment of China's 24th peacekeeping contingent to Lebanon, rushed to the scene at once. The accident site was a scene of mangled flesh and blood, permeated with the smell of blood. Zeng Lihong steadied her nerves, working with her team to rapidly measure vital signs, establish intravenous access, debride wounds and stop bleeding, while bending down to comfort the wounded. After emergency treatment, both critically injured personnel ultimately pulled through. When she removed her protective gloves, Zeng Lihong's fingertips trembled uncontrollably, and her uniform was soaked through with sweat.

Beyond fulfilling their peacekeeping duties, the officers and soldiers have also taken the initiative to build cultural bridges between China and other countries, bringing outstanding traditional Chinese culture—including guqin (古筝), martial arts, and traditional dance—into local schools and allied military camps, using the warmth of culture to dispel the shadow of war.

During one external duty patrol, a Chinese peacekeeping convoy was making its way through narrow streets and alleys when it was blocked by vehicles parked on the roadside. Upon seeing the Five-Starred Red Flag, local residents came forward of their own accord to move their vehicles and clear the road. Some residents stood to the side waving and calling out "China, China!" in Chinese. That recognition made the officers and soldiers feel the responsibility and honor of peacekeeping.

Li Gang, commander of China's 24th peacekeeping contingent to Lebanon, stated that since the beginning of this year, conflicts in the mission area have been unceasing and the situation has remained persistently tense, yet all officers and soldiers have consistently risen to the challenge and held their posts, standing shoulder to shoulder with peacekeeping counterparts from various countries to fulfill their duties and jointly safeguard peace. "Over 20 years, generation after generation of Chinese peacekeeping officers and soldiers have set out for southern Lebanon, far from their homeland, charging at the front lines, and practicing the original aspiration of peacekeeping through steadfast dedication."