China is set to become a global peacekeeper, not just by deploying 2,609 policemen to the UN, but also doubling their efforts around the world in countries including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kosovo, Cyprus, Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Haiti.

A short documentary by CGTN showed how China’s standby peacekeeping force stationed in Dongying are so dedicated to their work. The peacekeeping police maintain a disciplined lifestyle in their daily activities, from their strict diet of vegetables and meat to their recreational activities, which also involve physical training.

Despite training so hard to prepare themselves for conflict, one of the peacekeeping officers admitted that he has not used his weapon yet after being deployed to places like Africa. The lack of conflict has a lot to do with the peacekeeping officers being respected all over the world.

“Chinese peacekeeping police officers are highly respected and trusted, we have built that international prestige,” a UN peacekeeper explained.

President Xi Jinping even vowed to expand his country’s peacekeeping efforts by contributing 8,000 police officers to the UN, according to Quartz.

China is ramping up their peacekeeping missions so much that others are starting to wonder if the country is hoping to replace France in heading the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

The country has already deployed the largest number of peacekeeping police officers compared to other members of the UN Security Council, according to Global Times.

UN Peacekeeping Operations Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix even acknowledged China’s efforts by commending their deployed officers. Lacroix is certain that the officers will serve as a good example for the UN’s future operations.

While being away from the country could loosen the peacekeeping officers’ sense of nationality, one peacekeeper revealed that this isn’t the case.

“When you leave your country, you grow fonder of your homeland,” a Chinese officer explained.

Image via Wikimedia Commons / www.kremlin.ru (CC BY 4.0)