China will dispatch a team of 40 police to the East Timor October 24 to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping operations. The departure has roused extra attention since a Chinese policeman got injured in the Bali blast on his way back to China after completing his mission in the region.

Being the sixth batch of peacekeeping detachment China sends to East Timor since January 2000, the police team this time includes seven women. Their carry-on equipment, no major change from previous ones, include bullet-proof vest and helmet, electric prod, medicine, flashlight and pistol which, especially the last one, handy for use, is rather advanced than that of the police from other 20 countries.

The route through which peacekeeping forces enter and leave East Timor is appointed by the UN in advance. Since a Chinese policeman was injured in the Bali blast, it remains unknown so far weather the UN will change the route for Chinese force.

Lian Changgang, director of the reconnaissance department of China Police College who was among the first batch of Chinese policemen in East Timor, once acted for the UN as general supervisor in charge of all troops sent there by 43 countries. During his two-year's service in the region there was no Chinese policemen involved in the reported 300 cases of discipline breaches among peacekeeping forces, and the clean record has been kept till now, he said.

( October 24, 2002)