Editor's Note:

August 1, 2025 marks the 98th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). Over the past 98 years, the people's army under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has made indelible contributions to national independence, liberation of the people and national prosperity. It has fought in the Agrarian Revolutionary War, the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the War of Liberation, and the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. It has fulfilled its defense duties in Hong Kong and Macao in accordance with the law, effectively responded to various threats to national security, resolutely cracked down on all forms of separatist and sabotage activities, and actively participated in foreign military exchanges and cooperation as well as UN peacekeeping operations. Practice has fully proved that the people's military is a strong pillar for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and a staunch force for maintaining world peace.

The book series of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China includes several important speeches on adhering to the path of strengthening the military with Chinese characteristics. In the article "Continue to Strengthen Our Military" included in Volume II of the book series, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that the military must resolutely safeguard the Party's leadership and our socialist system, our sovereignty, security and interests, and regional and world peace.  

In Volume IV of the book series, Xi said when delivering an important speech during a ceremony marking the Centenary of the CPC that the achievements of the people's military on behalf of the Party and the people have been remarkable. It is a strong pillar that safeguards our socialist country and preserves national dignity, and a powerful force for protecting peace in our region and beyond. 

In the ninth installment of the special series "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," the Global Times, along with People's Daily Overseas Edition, explores the theme: following a Chinese path to military development, the Chinese military has always been a staunch force for world peace. We continue to invite Chinese and foreign scholars, translators of Xi's works, practitioners with firsthand experience, and international readers to discuss how, in the new era, the people's army fulfills its mission of building a strong military, practices the Global Security Initiative with concrete actions, takes on the responsibilities of a major country's military, and continuously makes greater contributions to maintaining world peace and stability.

This is the eighth installment in the "Practitioner's Insights" series. The Global Times spoke with Chinese peacekeeper and military doctor Li Dongdong, who shared how China's "Blue Helmets" use scalpels to fulfill their peace mission, showcasing the Chinese military's global responsibility on the world stage.

Li Dongdong in Darfur, Sudan, in 2016 Photo: Courtesy of Li

At noon in Sudan's Darfur region, the ground temperature nears 50 C. Li Dongdong and his comrades, clad in over 20 pounds of protective gear, patrol the sandy paths of a refugee camp. A venomous snake darts into the sand, mosquitoes buzz against their visors, and sporadic gunfire can be heard in the distance. A sudden, urgent call crackles through the intercom: "Unidentified armed attackers - move to Level 1 alert!" 

Sweat drips from Li's blue helmet, staining his uniform with another dark ring. Without hesitation, he grabs his medical kit and rushes out. "This isn't an exception; it's what we are often faced with in Sudan," recalled 34-year-old Li, showing the Global Times a photo album with sweat-stained uniforms - a testament to the Chinese military's dedication to peace in foreign lands.

On the occasion of China's Army Day on Friday, a retrospective reveals how the global footprint of the Chinese military stands out: From war-torn peacekeeping fronts to hazardous chemical weapons disposal sites, from disaster relief ruins to the decks of naval escorts, they embody the weight of a "force for peace." Li's story is a warm footnote to this legacy.

In the article "Continue to Strengthen Our Military" included in Volume II of the book series Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, said at the rally marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) that the military must resolutely safeguard the Party's leadership and our socialist system, our sovereignty, security and interests, and regional and world peace.

'One family's sacrifice for the peace of many'

Chinese troops with UN peacekeeping experiences will participate in the September 3 military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory against Japanese aggression and fascism, said a senior military officer at a press conference on June 24.

This arrangement not only highlights China's solemn commemoration of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, but also demonstrates the country's commitment to fulfilling international obligations and safeguarding world peace, said Wu Zeke, a senior officer of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission.

"When I heard this, I instinctively touched my old helmet," Li said. "I'm eager for the world to see Chinese soldiers in blue helmets again - we've always been here." He often recalls President Xi's words: "China will always be a builder of world peace, contributor of global development, and keeper of international order." 

On Sudan's toughest nights, these words prompt Li to reflect on the power carried by a small helmet. "It's the true weight of 'one family's sacrifice for the peace of many,'" he told the Global Times.

This mission drives young Chinese soldiers like Li from campuses to war-torn peacekeeping fronts. 

Over the past 35 years of the Chinese military's participation in UN peacekeeping operations, the composition of Chinese peacekeeping forces has been expanded from single-service units to multiple military forces. At present, more than 1,800 Chinese military personnel are carrying out missions across seven UN peacekeeping mission areas and at UN Headquarters. The Chinese military has deployed more than 50,000 peacekeepers since 1990, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

China is the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and provides more peacekeepers than any of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council.

"If I die, turn my ashes into paint and write 'Strengthening the Military, Count Me in' on the unit's wall," Li wrote in his 2016 peacekeeping application at the age of 25. Those bold words stemmed from his seven-year career as a military doctor: "Wearing a uniform without seeing combat, bearing a Party badge without being tested on the field - what kind of soldier am I?"

Darfur provided his answer. Since November 2007, China sent its first peacekeeping unit to Darfur, becoming the first UN force in the region. Since August 2014, violence has persisted, with unidentified armed groups attacking UN peacekeepers, killing several, and creating a volatile security situation, according to media reports.

The armed militants' pickup trucks with machine guns roared past the camp, and stray bullets from tribal clashes pierced the night. "When gunfire erupts, your body reacts faster than your mind," Li told the Global Times. "Hide, observe, stand by - those actions are ingrained as muscle memory." Sometimes, right before lifting a scalpel from a patient's wound, gunfire would erupt. 

Worse than bullets were diseases - patrolling in 50 C heat with body armor, uniforms caked with salt from sweat; during malaria outbreaks, comrades burned with 40 C fevers, unable to eat. "The hardest part was watching them shiver, powerless with limited medicine," Li said.

Li Dongdong treats a patient in Sudan in 2016. Photo: Courtesy of Li

Carving China's mark through perseverance

In Sudan, one scene haunted Li. During an outdoor mission, just as the cooking squad had laid out lunch, a few grains of rice fell onto the sandy ground. Before they could pick them up, local children rushed over, grabbing the rice grains mixed with sand to eat them. "Their heads were large, bellies swollen, and limbs as thin as reeds - clear signs of chronic malnutrition," Li said. "We gave them our biscuits and fruit, but it broke our hearts."

"At military school, 'strong military' felt like a slogan. In Sudan, I realized it's the strength to ensure kids don't go hungry," Li said.

Li told the Global Times that Chinese peacekeepers in Darfur were not just "guardians" but "builders." They tackled the toughest tasks with the highest standards and fastest pace. 

The 150-meter main bridge in the Gereida region of Sudan, the only link between Nyala, Gereida, and Buram, was critical for supplying 24 refugee camps with nearly 100,000 people. Floods and heavy vehicles had collapsed its surface, making it impassable and hazardous. At the request of the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation and local authorities, China's engineering unit deployed over 70 soldiers and 15 machines. Working over 12 hours daily in 50 C heat amid tribal conflicts and civilian attacks, they restored the bridge in just 10 days, ensuring a "lifeline" for the rainy season. 

Li still clearly remembers Gereida's mayor clasping his hands while thanking Chinese engineers for making a huge contribution. He expressed appreciation on behalf of Gereida's people. The bridge, later named "Friendship Bridge," became a model of "China's speed and standards."

Locals remembered these efforts. "On patrol, people would shout 'Nihao' ("Hello" in Chinese)," Li recalled with a smile. "An old man showed me his Huawei phone, saying 'Huawei, good'; some others pointed to houses built with aid from China, saying 'China, good.'" 

As a doctor who treats locals, Li felt their trust. "An elderly man with back pain walked upright after an acupuncture session. He then brought neighbors daily to receive acupuncture, cupping, and massage treatments." Despite language barriers, gestures and the "thumbs-up" have bridged the gap. "I realized we weren't just peacekeeping - we were making friends."

The Liaoning aircraft carrier participates in a dual-aircraft-carrier formation drill on October 21, 2024. Photo: VCG

Peacekeepers write a new chapter

"My year-plus in peacekeeping taught me that Chinese soldiers are 'China's calling card' wherever we go," Li said. 

"We always remember that President Xi told us to contribute more to maintaining world peace and show a good image of the Chinese military to the world when talking with Chinese peacekeepers posted overseas via video link on January 28, 2022 during his visit to the Central Theater Command of the PLA ahead of the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year." Every day abroad, Chinese peacekeepers treated locals like family, tackling the toughest tasks with grit. 

Pursuing a doctoral degree at the Air Force Medical University now, he often thinks of the regrets he had in Sudan when looking at the 3D bioprinter in the laboratory. "Back then, the severity of the wounded soldiers' injuries was judged solely by experience; but now, with technology, the vital signs from the frontline can be transmitted to the rear in real-time, and drones can deliver first-aid kits with precision."

He counts the changes over the years on his fingers: "Evacuating the wounded by drones has significantly accelerated the recovery of severely injured soldiers, allowing them to return to their posts and resume their duties as soon as possible; the medical support big data is connected to the command chain, so commanders can see at a glance where the wounded are and whether the medical channels are sufficient; wearable devices can monitor mental states and prevent psychological crises in advance; remote surgical robots and 5G private networks have even 'moved' top-tier hospitals to the frontline. Are these just simple technologies? They are the confidence that enables our comrades-in-arms to shed less blood and makes missions more assured."

This confidence is gaining global recognition. In May, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with China's Minister of National Defense Dong Jun while attending the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025. Guterres noted China's increasingly important role in UN peacekeeping and said he looks forward to closer cooperation with China in this field.

Guterres expressed appreciation for China's long-standing support for the United Nations, describing the country as an important pillar of multilateralism both now and in the future. The UN highly values the three major global initiatives proposed by China and is committed to close cooperation with China across a wide range of areas, firmly opposing unilateralism based on power politics, according to Xinhua.

The international recognition stems from the solid strides in the modernization of China's military. Li said, "Strengthening the military through technology not only makes our equipment more advanced, but more importantly, it gives us the confidence to safeguard peace. We aim to 'fight and win wars,' but our ultimate goal is 'no need to fight' - using powerful strength to maintain peace."

From Sudan's blue helmet to the lab's white coat, the battlefield changes, but "protection" remains constant, Li said.

After Sudan, Li joined chemical weapons disposal in Northeast China. Sweating in protective gear, he recalled Africa's scorching sun. "In Sudan, we stopped ongoing suffering; here, we heal history's scars," he said. "China's military pursues not self-interest but global good - like the stars on the army flag, illuminating both China's lands and the world's corners." 

Reflecting on blue-helmet patrols under the scorching sun, Li's journey affirms the Chinese military's pledge: Regardless of location in the world, blue-helmeted figures will stand firm, using strength to protect peace and actions to embody a "force for peace" - the finest tribute to Army Day and China's steadfast global commitment.