China's blue helmets are in action to guard peace —— On the persistence of Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalions in South Sudan in foreign countries In East Africa and South Sudan, the maximum surface temperature can exceed 50 ℃, the natural environment is poor and the security situation is grim. The 700 officers and soldiers of the seventh batch of Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba) are taking practical actions to bring peace and hope to the local people. "It is reported that a camouflage truck was found 300 meters away from my observation area, with five people in military uniforms and one heavy machine gun..." Late at night, a briefing on outpost 2 came from the walkie talkie from time to time. The yeyi road directly in front of the outpost is the only road from the outside to Juba city. The composition of people and vehicles is complex and events occur frequently. On average, more than 60 local armed vehicles and more than 80 weapons pass here every day. Not far from the post is the No. 1 shelter. The officers and soldiers of the Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion guard the safety of all personnel in the United Nations camp 24 hours a day, and also guard the safety of more than 5000 civilians in the shelter at all times. Since the deployment of the first batch of Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion officers and soldiers to the mission area in 2015, many children in No. 1 shelter have slowly grown up under the protection of peacekeeping officers and soldiers. Every weekend, battalion commander Yang Zhongju will go to the surrounding villages and shelters to observe the situation and establish deep friendship with local children. These children have also witnessed the life and death test faced by Chinese peacekeepers at any time. On July 10, 2016, there was a fierce exchange of fire between the government forces of South Sudan and the rebels near the No. 1 shelter. Many families hid at several nearby Chinese outposts. A child later called "class 10" by Chinese officers and soldiers was also held by his mother and hid in the No. 2 outpost nearest to them. On that day, the six-year-old "class 10" witnessed the heroic sacrifice of Li Lei and Yang Shupeng, officers and soldiers of China's second peacekeeping infantry battalion, who were on mission, because their No. 105 infantry chariot was hit by a shell. Yang Zhongju often said to his comrades in arms: "on the United Nations stage, we represent China." In February this year, the peacekeeping infantry battalion carried out a long-distance patrol mission for the first time. Yang Zhongju received a notification from the temporary operation base in the operation duty room that two armed forces are exchanging fire 25 kilometers away from the base, which may endanger our safety. Do you want to withdraw? Yang Zhongju, the team leader Zhao Yanjun and others held an emergency meeting by telephone to study and judge the situation. Finally, the battalion Party committee decided to complete the task as planned. More than 90 officers and soldiers of the external unit were on first-class combat readiness in the field tent, holding steel guns and waiting all night. They returned to the camp as planned after carrying out free clinic and condolences for the local people the next day. The battalion Party committee led all emergency units in the camp to be fully armed and stick to it all night, ready to support the temporary operation base at any time. The local person in charge of South Sudan told the team leader Zhao Yanjun at the free clinic: "I thought you would leave, but I didn't expect you to help us under so much pressure. I thank you on behalf of all the villagers." At the end of the mission, the team slowly drove away from the mission area. Many children chased the team barefoot, waving goodbye and shouting "China". Since the seventh batch of Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalions to South Sudan (Juba) were deployed to the mission area in December 2020, they have completed tasks such as armed patrols, isolated conflicts, guard and search with high standards. During the mission, 49 officers and soldiers of the whole battalion won the "personal commendation" from the force commander of UNMIS, 110 officers and soldiers won the "personal commendation" from the commander of Juba theater, and UNMIS and Juba theater also awarded the "collective commendation" to the peacekeeping infantry battalion respectively. At 2 a.m., the United Nations camp kept a bright light in the darkness of Juba city. A soldier transport vehicle drove out of the Chinese battalion and sent the officers and soldiers who changed their posts to the surrounding 18 observation and warning posts in turn. In a foreign country thousands of miles away from the motherland, Chinese peacekeeping officers and soldiers remember their mission and shoulder it bravely, bringing peace and hope to the local people. (outlook new era)