UN To send troops to Darfur

[lostexpectation]

chinese americans russians what the difference?

[Thac0man]

Drilling for oil in Somalia is hardly 'without risk'.

It is without political risk. Chinese investment/backing means that they will not be asked to participate in UN forces in many African counties.

It's just that I don't think China are exceptional in their actions, criticism is due across the board. I fear needling China too much will let everyone else off the hook.

Everyone else is on the "hook", we hear about it everyday or so it seems. What is suprising is that Chinas massive investment (and military aid) has went almost uncommented on until most of it was in place. I would refer you to a few threads on p.ie about it where people balk at the thought of China eclypsing their anti-western bile. But the people who also got off the hook most were the people who should have been giving us a broader picture instead of partial truth, the every preaching and increasingly moralistic media.

[St Disibod]

Drilling for oil in Somalia is hardly 'without risk'.

It is without political risk. Chinese investment/backing means that they will not be asked to participate in UN forces in many African counties.

China's UN peacekeeping record is better than most. They regularly feature near the top of the list for peacekeeper contributions (see here): for June of this year they were 13th for the highest contribution, going as follows:

1 ) Pakistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,703
2 ) Bangladesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,715
3 ) India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,332
4 ) Nepal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,651
5 ) Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,577
6 ) Ghana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,947
7 ) Uruguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,589
8 ) Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,515
9 ) Italy . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 2,505
10 ) France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,986
11 ) Senegal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,936
12 ) Ethiopia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,839
13 ) China. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,830

As you can imagine, they're not only large contributors but they are also among the best- I would rather have Chinese troops in my neighbourhood over Nepalese troops any day of the week. The UK is ranked 38th (373 members) and the US 42nd (313 members). Ireland is 53rd with 210 members.

[Thac0man]

Could try another list...

Worlds largest foreign currancy reserve:
1. China = $1 Trillion
2. Everyone else

Worlds largest population:
1. China
2. Everyone else

World largest Standing Army:
1. China = 2,255,000 (800,000 reserves)
2. US = 1,426,000 (858,000 reserves)
3. India
4. Russia
5. North Korea

I conceed, 13th on UN list on contributers is not bad, in fact I would even go as far as to say its "okay" (they made 12th place december 06'). But again how many in Africa? They might offer to contribute to Darfur, but I doubt they will be allowed due to their involvement. People can rant on all they want about European involvement, but we would not be barred from peace keeping in Darfur.

PS. The UN web site gives sustained figures on a monthly basis. Taking total contribution into account, UN operations involving US forces in the Balkons and British troops in Sierra Leone would leave China's gross contribution in the shade. And they are just two examples.

[St Disibod]

But again how many in Africa? [...]

PS. The UN web site gives sustained figures on a monthly basis. Taking total contribution into account, UN operations involving US forces in the Balkons and British troops in Sierra Leone would leave China's gross contribution in the shade. And they are just two examples.

I'm not sure what you mean here. The bulk of Chinese UN peacekeepers (c.1,400) are in Lebanon (were one was killed by the Israelis last summer), the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Sudan. My source is the Xinhua News Agency no less. Narrowing our attention to Africa makes Chinese contributions look greater, not lesser, as that is where three of four of their largest contributions to UN operations are located.

But I would tend to measure UN contributions globally rather than continentally. Quality of the troops is perhaps the most important factor, and as far as I know Chinese troops are considered to be good. Irish troops would be top of the range of course (YouTube incidents aside), but we all know that already.