China is sending 700 combat troops to South Sudan to engage in peace-keeping operations in a demonstration of its international responsibilities and not to build an "overseas military base", says an article in the Beijing News.

Excerpts:

Although China has previously sent a peace-keeping police force, engineering corps and medical staff to Haiti and Rwanda, this is the first time it has dispatched combat troops in such large numbers to a foreign country.

It sent 300 peace-keeping troops to Mali to protect Chinese engineers and from that action gained experience for the deployment in South Sudan.

The increase in China's involvement in foreign peace-keeping missions corresponds to the growth in China's national power, and also matches the expectation of the international community for China’s greater contribution to global affairs.

China follows resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, requests of the UN and has permission from the South Sudan government.

All troop deployment is conducted under the command of the UN and China's peace-keeping mission in Africa is not unilaterial action for its own national interest.

South Sudan is a new member of the UN. The international community takes responsibility for the new member's stability and development. Responsible powers should not stand by when a young country is facing civil war.

China abides by its non-interference principle in foreign affairs, will not take sides and maintains neutrality. As long as China's actions can boost regional stability and promote peace, it should not hesitate to do so. At the request of the UN and the South Sudan government, China can increase the scale of its peace-keeping forces if needed.