October 6, 2005: China has put together a 450 man peacekeeping force for duty in Sudan. The unit includes 275 engineers, 100 transport troops, 60 medical personnel and a small headquarters. The unit received special training, and the unit will start moving to Sudan in October. China has been much more active in peacekeeping over the last few years, and sees it as a way to become a bigger player in world diplomacy, and gives its troops practical experience. The Sudan operation is particularly important, as Chinese firms are the major operator of Sudanese oil drilling and pumping facilities.
