China’s evolving motivations and goals in UN peacekeeping participation
| Author | Fanglu Sun,Xiaojun Li,Songying Fang |
| DOI | 10.1177/0020702018795898 |
| Date | 01 September 2018 |
| Published date | 01 September 2018 |
| Subject Matter | Policy Papers |
Policy Paper
China’s evolving
motivations and goals
in UN peacekeeping
participation
Songying Fang
Department of Political Science, Rice University, Houston,
Texas, USA
Xiaojun Li
Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Fanglu Sun
School of International Relations and Public Policy, Fudan
University, Shanghai, China
Abstract
This brief examines how the motivations and goals of China’s participation in United
Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations have evolved since 1990 as a result of China’s
changing national interests. We conclude that China is unlikely to abandon its long-held
foreign policy principle of non-interference. However, motivated by a desire to be seen
as a responsible global power, Beijing is seriously considering a more proactive approach
to humanitarian crises, which may include direct intervention. Furthermore, as a sig-
nificant contributor of troops and financing, China is uniquely positioned to represent
the perspectives of both developing and developed countries in UN peacekeeping.
To do so, Beijing will need to increase its leadership role in UN peacekeeping operations
and offer creative ideas about how to promote reconciliation and development in post-
conflict societies.
Keywords
Peacekeeping, China, United Nations, Africa, Responsibility to Protect
International Journal
2018, Vol. 73(3) 464–473
!The Author(s) 2018
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DOI: 10.1177/0020702018795898
journals.sagepub.com/home/ijx
Corresponding author:
Xiaojun Li, University of British Columbia, Department of Political Science, C425–1866 Main Mall,
Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada.
Email: xiaojun.li@ubc.ca
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