Posted on 09/18/2006 3:50:14 PM PDT by blam
China ups Lebanon force to 1,000
China sent 180 engineers to Lebanon before the recent fighting
China will increase its peacekeeping presence in Lebanon to 1,000 troops, Premier Wen Jiabao has confirmed. The move would make China one of the largest contributors to a strengthened UN force designed to keep the peace.
It would also signal that China, now the world's fourth largest economy, was starting to lift its diplomacy in areas it had previously not seen as vital.
The UN wants to raise troop numbers in southern Lebanon to 15,000 as part of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
It follows August's UN-brokered truce which ended 34 days of fighting between Israel and the militant Hezbollah movement.
TROOP DEPLOYMENTS/PLEDGES
France - lead role, 2,000 troops
Italy - 2,500-3,000 troops
Bangladesh - two battalions (2,000 troops)
China - 1,000 troops
Malaysia - one battalion
Spain - mechanised battalion
Indonesia - battalion and engineering company
Nepal - one battalion
Denmark - at least two ships
Poland - 500 troops
Belgium - 400 troops
Finland - 250 troops
Germany - maritime/border patrols, no combat troops
Norway - 100 soldiers
More than 1,100 Lebanese - mostly civilians - were killed during the war. More than 150 Israelis - mainly soldiers - were also killed.
Leading role
Mr Wen made the announcement - which had been hinted at last week - following talks in Beijing with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
"China is very concerned about the situation in Lebanon and hopes it can be fundamentally resolved," Mr Wen said.
Mr Prodi said it showed China was taking on a greater diplomatic role.
CHINA'S PEACEKEEPERS
1989: Takes part in first UN mission, to Namibia
2000: Sends 15 peacekeepers to East Timor
2003: Sends 550 troops to Liberia, and 175 to DR Congo
2004: Sends one policeman to Afghanistan
Sep 2006: Announces a 180-strong mission to Lebanon to be lifted to 1,000 troops
"This shows that China is assuming more and more international responsibility," he said.
In the past, China has been reluctant to play leading roles in UN peacekeeping missions.
Until 1989, it shunned UN missions for interfering in other country's internal affairs.
But as China's economy has grown more powerful, it has faced calls from the US and EU to play a greater role. It own foreign policy has shifted so that ensuring access to natural resources like oil is now a priority.
Earlier this year - before the fighting between Israel an Hezbollah - China sent 180 peacekeepers to the Unifil force in Lebanon, its first peacekeeping contingent to the Middle East.
Increasing the force to 1,000 troops would make it the largest Chinese contribution to a UN peacekeeping mission so far.
A rotating force of about 2,000 Unifil peacekeepers have been stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978.
Under Resolution 1701, the expanded force will support the Lebanese army taking over areas that have been controlled by Hezbollah since Israel ended its occupation of the south in 2000.
Looks like the Butchers of Beijing have found a way to profit,financially and/or influence-wise,by graciously volunteering to send troop to the Middle East.
Personally I see this as a good thing. The Hezbo's aren't going to welcome the Chinese any more than they're going to welcome the French. Let the Chinese get a taste of the "religion of peace" and it might make them a little more amenable in the future.
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"More than 1,100 Lebanese - mostly civilians - were killed during the war.
More than 150 Israelis - mainly soldiers - were also killed."
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Don't believe it.
"More than 1,100 Lebanese - mostly civilians - were killed during the war.
More than 150 Israelis - mainly soldiers - were also killed."
Notice that the word terrorist isn't mentioned, as if. Notice beyond that there is no negative conotation given to the Lebanese numbers at all. Who died other than civilians? Well that's a little vague huh.
Some of this is not surprising. There are no official Hezbollah armed forces. There are no rosters. Their members don't wear uniforms. They don't have military compounds. They don't fight on a battlefield. They do fight in neighborhoods from schools and private residences.
How would anyone know if they are civilians or not? Well, of course nobody does.
Here Hezbollah's public information service, the BBC, slants another report on behalf of their puppet masters.
The BBC has declined to the point that it's downright laughable.
The Chi-coms might think they're in bed with the ROP, but they'll be in for a rude awakening. Muslims attack EVERYONE and the Chinese won't get a pass,(heck they've already had some attacks from Muslim separatists of their own). Take a look at the Muslim world and try to figure out just who it is they're at peace with.
So can we expect the ChiComs to roll in the tanks and squash a few Muzzies or will they take care of the Torture, I mean POW Camps.
Perhaps will they also take care of the Organ Removal, I mean Health Care care.
Whatever it is, I know they will do a good job. They seems to be able to keep their Muslims under the leash, I wonder if they won't do the same.
I can only imagine what they are going to do, Gang up on them and beat them up? Shackle them up and leave them in the burning sun and freezing moons nude? Or will they just do it like the good old days and open a labor camp so our McDonald Toys will come from Hezbollah with Cruelty?
Why does this frighten me?
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