AI
Thursday, September 30, 2004 10:14:26 AM
China shows off peacekeepers for Haiti
Haiti is among about a score of countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than China, and Beijing's move could be a part of a decades-long struggle with its rival for Third World influence.
"I believe that China will make even greater contributions to U.N. peacekeeping missions in the future."
We will see a greater military presence from China throughout the world and they have the population to make themselves visible.
-Am
Chinese police officer in riot gear training for the United Nations peacekeeping mission at a training camp in Langfang, on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004. China showed off its peacekeeping forces with marches and drills on Wednesday as it prepared to send them to Haiti in the country's inaugural UN mission to the Western Hemisphere. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
China shows off peacekeepers for Haiti
By STEPHANIE HOO
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Wednesday, September 29, 2004 · Last updated 10:52 p.m. PT
Chinese police officer in riot gear training for the United Nations peacekeeping mission at a training camp in Langfang, on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004. China showed off its peacekeeping forces with marches and drills on Wednesday as it prepared to send them to Haiti in the country's inaugural UN mission to the Western Hemisphere. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
LANGFANG, China -- Armed police in combat boots karate-chopped and slashed the air with black clubs, part of a Chinese display of peacekeeping force as Beijing dispatches a 125-strong contingent to Haiti - its first contribution to a U.N. mission in the Western Hemisphere.
Wearing blue U.N. helmets, officers marched in formation and demonstrated martial arts for journalists from more than 20 countries at a new training center south of Beijing on Tuesday. Others with body armor and clear plastic shields showed of riot-control tactics.
"China yearns to take greater responsibility for international peacekeeping," said Zhao Xiaoxun, commander of a squad of riot police bound for Haiti. "Of course I am reluctant to leave my family, but I am also filled with a very deep sense of honor."
China sent 31 members of the police contingent to Haiti this month and the rest are scheduled to join them next month in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.
"This shows we are making a greater contribution to the peacekeeping missions of the United Nations," said Tan Jun, chief of the peacekeeping division of the Ministry of Public Security. "I believe that China will make even greater contributions to U.N. peacekeeping missions in the future."
Since 1999, China has sent 253 police officers on U.N. missions in East Timor, Bosnia, Liberia, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and now Haiti.
In Haiti, the peacekeepers will mainly supervise and train police, maintain order and help rebuild the judicial system, officials at the training center said.
Haiti is among about a score of countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than China, and Beijing's move could be a part of a decades-long struggle with its rival for Third World influence.
Officials wouldn't comment on that Wednesday.
The trainees at the $18 million facility receive three months of training, including studies from human rights textbooks provided by the United Nations and language lessons.
The police on Wednesday also showed off the hand signals they will use in Haiti: a finger to the lips for "be quiet," a waving hand beside the ear for "I don't understand."
Their riot gear read "police" in Chinese on the front and in English on the back.
Since U.N. guidelines require the peacekeepers to be self-sufficient, they are bringing their own trucks and electric generators - and 30 tons of rice.
The United Nations has investigated China's police practices amid complaints about arbitrary detentions and torture, but officials said Chinese forces have had no problems abroad.
"We have sent many civilian police overseas, and so far none of them has been disciplined," Tan said. "On the contrary, they have received U.N. peacekeeping medals."
Political tensions have plagued Haiti for much of the year.
Most recently, Hurricane Jeanne killed more than 1,500 and left 200,000 homeless. In recent days, U.N. peacekeepers have been assigned to stop looters from stealing food aid.
The U.N. mission has about 2,700 peacekeepers in Haiti - less than half of its authorized strength of 6,700 - and has yet to deploy throughout the entire country.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=China%20Haiti
Haiti is among about a score of countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than China, and Beijing's move could be a part of a decades-long struggle with its rival for Third World influence.
"I believe that China will make even greater contributions to U.N. peacekeeping missions in the future."
We will see a greater military presence from China throughout the world and they have the population to make themselves visible.
-Am
Chinese police officer in riot gear training for the United Nations peacekeeping mission at a training camp in Langfang, on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004. China showed off its peacekeeping forces with marches and drills on Wednesday as it prepared to send them to Haiti in the country's inaugural UN mission to the Western Hemisphere. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
China shows off peacekeepers for Haiti
By STEPHANIE HOO
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Wednesday, September 29, 2004 · Last updated 10:52 p.m. PT
Chinese police officer in riot gear training for the United Nations peacekeeping mission at a training camp in Langfang, on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004. China showed off its peacekeeping forces with marches and drills on Wednesday as it prepared to send them to Haiti in the country's inaugural UN mission to the Western Hemisphere. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
LANGFANG, China -- Armed police in combat boots karate-chopped and slashed the air with black clubs, part of a Chinese display of peacekeeping force as Beijing dispatches a 125-strong contingent to Haiti - its first contribution to a U.N. mission in the Western Hemisphere.
Wearing blue U.N. helmets, officers marched in formation and demonstrated martial arts for journalists from more than 20 countries at a new training center south of Beijing on Tuesday. Others with body armor and clear plastic shields showed of riot-control tactics.
"China yearns to take greater responsibility for international peacekeeping," said Zhao Xiaoxun, commander of a squad of riot police bound for Haiti. "Of course I am reluctant to leave my family, but I am also filled with a very deep sense of honor."
China sent 31 members of the police contingent to Haiti this month and the rest are scheduled to join them next month in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.
"This shows we are making a greater contribution to the peacekeeping missions of the United Nations," said Tan Jun, chief of the peacekeeping division of the Ministry of Public Security. "I believe that China will make even greater contributions to U.N. peacekeeping missions in the future."
Since 1999, China has sent 253 police officers on U.N. missions in East Timor, Bosnia, Liberia, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and now Haiti.
In Haiti, the peacekeepers will mainly supervise and train police, maintain order and help rebuild the judicial system, officials at the training center said.
Haiti is among about a score of countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than China, and Beijing's move could be a part of a decades-long struggle with its rival for Third World influence.
Officials wouldn't comment on that Wednesday.
The trainees at the $18 million facility receive three months of training, including studies from human rights textbooks provided by the United Nations and language lessons.
The police on Wednesday also showed off the hand signals they will use in Haiti: a finger to the lips for "be quiet," a waving hand beside the ear for "I don't understand."
Their riot gear read "police" in Chinese on the front and in English on the back.
Since U.N. guidelines require the peacekeepers to be self-sufficient, they are bringing their own trucks and electric generators - and 30 tons of rice.
The United Nations has investigated China's police practices amid complaints about arbitrary detentions and torture, but officials said Chinese forces have had no problems abroad.
"We have sent many civilian police overseas, and so far none of them has been disciplined," Tan said. "On the contrary, they have received U.N. peacekeeping medals."
Political tensions have plagued Haiti for much of the year.
Most recently, Hurricane Jeanne killed more than 1,500 and left 200,000 homeless. In recent days, U.N. peacekeepers have been assigned to stop looters from stealing food aid.
The U.N. mission has about 2,700 peacekeepers in Haiti - less than half of its authorized strength of 6,700 - and has yet to deploy throughout the entire country.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=China%20Haiti
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