China 4th largest contributor to Lebanon peacekeeping force

adeptitus

Captain
VIP Professional
The Lebanon UN mission is one of very few cases here blue-helmted guys are going to deploy main battle tanks (Leclerc):

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French roll out tanks for U.N. force in Lebanon
60-ton armored vehicles have never been deployed outside of Europe

Updated: 2:29 p.m. PT Sept 12, 2006

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Thirteen French tanks, the most powerful armor ever deployed by a U.N. peacekeeping force, rolled ashore Tuesday, beefing up a mission aimed at helping cement an uneasy cease-fire in Lebanon.

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IMO the MBTs are there to show that the UN mission has "teeth" and will bite if provoked.
 

DPRKPTboat

Junior Member
Do they have to go around in those light blue UN trucks? And do they all get issued standard UN gear?

Or can China bring some main battle tanks and other heavy gear to test and practice with in southern Lebanon? Or how about bringing in the new WZ-10?

It would be a amazing opportunity for photos if it did.

By Standard U.N. gear I assume you mean Western weaponary and regular transport trucks. I would guess the PLA would use its own equipment, since that is what they are used to operating with. I remember Pakistani troops used Chinese equipment in Somalia, so I would expect the Chinese to do the same here. They would only bring heavy equipment if they had to - they want to appear as peacekeepers, not conquerors. But if they did, it would be a good chance to test their equipment. This article which should say a bit more about the significance of this deployment:

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LiLaZnMaGiCsCt

New Member
China would probably want their soldiers to gain international experience. Help their forces last and see what's life over the borders or overseas. I think this is terrific opportunity for PLA because it'll give them the benefit they need.
 

FreeAsia2000

Junior Member
I think this is mainly political, but i reckon this is the first step for the PLA into getting some of their troops with perhaps might later on become some combat experience if any.
Although trying to keep the peace, doesn't really seem like they may fight in anyway.

Methinks that all of those countries want their military in there because
they want to check out Hizbullah's techniques. :)

Heck even Pakistan is sending troops not as part of the UN force though.
 

kunmingren

Junior Member
How exactly does a peace keeping force work, how does the chain of command flows. Would the chinese contingent take orders from the french and the italians? Would the chinese troops have to take part in operations in which they have to shoot at someone? :confused:
 

DPRKPTboat

Junior Member
How exactly does a peace keeping force work, how does the chain of command flows. Would the chinese contingent take orders from the french and the italians? Would the chinese troops have to take part in operations in which they have to shoot at someone? :confused:

According to the U.N. rules of engagement, the peacekeepers can only fire and fight if they are being fired upon - lets just hope that doesn't happen to often in Lebanon. Only if the U.N. made a decision to take more agressive action (like in Somalia) then they would take part in combat operations. I would guess much of what the PLA would be doing in Lebanon would be setting up buffer zones and protecting aid convoys. How they actually "keep the peace" is a matter to debate (since its political it wouldn't be allowed here). The Chinese aren't the leaders of the operation - the French are, as you pointed out. The Chinese general in command of the PLA forces would report to the commanding French or Italian general. I guess that would be the case, correct me if I'm wrong.
 
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