China’s Evolving Role in the United Nations: Analysis of the People’s Liberation Army’s Engagement in UN Security Operations

Abstract

Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has become a proactive participant in world affairs, showing a desire and an ability to contribute to global public goods. As a result, China’s support for the United Nations has grown considerably. Today, China is the second largest financial contributor to the organization’s overall budget, and the largest troop contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. This article examines China’s engagement within the UN framework and, in particular, why the UN has been chosen by Beijing as one of the key venues through which to flex its diplomatic muscles and strengthen its influence abroad. To address this research question, this article adopts a case study approach that focuses on the deployment of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) units for missions relating to counter-piracy and peacekeeping activities. Drawing
on the literature on military diplomacy and the study of Chinese media, it provides a comprehensive assessment of Beijing’s motivations in the pursuit of peace enforcement in international relations, and highlights the unique role played by the PLA in achieving this ambition。