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China's charm offensive and peacekeeping: the lessons of Cambodia – what now for Sudan?

Hirono, Miwa

China's charm offensive and peacekeeping: the lessons of Cambodia – what now for Sudan? Thumbnail


Authors

Miwa Hirono



Abstract

China's participation in UN peacekeeping is often viewed as a part of a global ‘charm offensive’ aimed at enhancing China's image in host countries. However, when viewed in the light of its support for dictatorial regimes in those host countries, do Chinese peacekeeping efforts improve the perceptions local populations have of China? This article examines changes in Cambodian perceptions of China during the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) from 1992 to 1993. It argues that China's peacekeeping contribution to UNTAC helped to overcome negative perceptions of that country rooted in its support of the Khmer Rouge before 1992. The key to overcoming current negative perceptions is to project an image of Chinese neutrality with respect to all parties in a civil war. This article concludes by discussing the implication of this argument with regard to China's peacekeeping in Sudan from 2006 to the present, and suggesting that China will need to be more attentive to the needs of other warring factions in the north–south and Darfur conflicts.

Citation

Hirono, M. (2011). China's charm offensive and peacekeeping: the lessons of Cambodia – what now for Sudan?. International Peacekeeping, 18(3), https://doi.org/10.1080/13533312.2011.563097

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jun 15, 2011
Deposit Date Mar 26, 2014
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal International Peacekeeping
Print ISSN 1353-3312
Electronic ISSN 1353-3312
Publisher Routledge
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 18
Issue 3
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/13533312.2011.563097
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/707646
Publisher URL http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13533312.2011.563097#.Uy3BEKh_s9Y

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