The first infantry battalion is returning to China, group by group, after eight months of duty as UN peacekeepers in South Sudan. CCTV reporter Liu Li talked to one of the peacekeepers about his experience in South Sudan.
This honorary medal of peace marks a successful end for Yang Zhao's eight-month UN peacekeeping mission. This was a first for the 20-year army veteran.
The duties of the Chinese peacekeepers included protecting civilians, UN staff, and humanitarian workers, and performing patrol and security duties. Yang said the battalion dealt with different kinds of situations and encountered numerous armed conflicts. He shared the encounter during a patrol outside South Sudan's capital Juba.
"It was an armed conflict between local government forces and unidentified combatants. As UN peacekeepers, we should follow the principles of neutrality. We wouldn't fight back unless we encountered a direct attack. We warned the combatants by using loudspeakers and showing our weapons. The combatants didn't leave until we gave the second warning. During this conflict, we avoided getting involved with the armed conflict, and managed to protect the civilians gathered near our camp," Yang said.
Yang said peacekeepers communicate with the local people to strengthen mutual trust and to assist them with development.
"We helped them build a farm in a village near Juba and taught farming skills by using our agricultural knowledge and skills. Under the drought situation, we offered drinking water that we purified ourselves to villagers around our camp with a UN mandate," Yang said.
Yang said the Chinese peacekeepers had devoted much to South Sudan. He said that offered another mission, he would say yes with no hesitation.
China has taken part in UN peacekeeping missions for 25 years and continues to make more contributions. Yang Zhao is not just telling his own story. Keeping peace, bringing hope and a better life to people in need is every peacekeeper's aspiration.
