China will, for the first time, dispatch police officers and soldiers to the war-torn West African country of Liberia for peacekeeping missions, sources with the Ministry of Public Security said Thursday.

At the request of the United Nations and approved by the State Council, five Chinese police officers who have passed the ministry's strict examinations and met all UN requirements for peacekeeping missions will fly to Liberia on Sunday, said the ministry.

When meeting with the five officers, Assistant Minister of Public Security Meng Hongwei demanded they abide by UN regulations and local laws while executing peacekeeping tasks.

Meng's ministry has provided helmets, bullet-proof vests, truncheons and other necessities to ensure they can live and work independently and safely in the West African nation.

In September this year, the United Nations decided to organize a special regiment to Liberia for a peacekeeping mission in accordance with Resolution 1509 which was been approved by the Security Council.

Twenty-nine countries including China, the United States and Britain have decided to send peacekeeping police to Liberia, where the number of UN peacekeeping police will reach 1,200.

In early October, Liberia signed a communique to resume diplomatic relations with China at the ambassadorial level after it decided to break off a relationship with Taiwan.

In another development, a military company of more than 240 Chinese soldiers is now ready to carry out peacekeeping missions in Liberia and is waiting for UN departure orders, reported Xinhua.

According to the General Logistics Department of the People's Liberation Army of China, the company will be responsible for transportation tasks for other peacekeeping troops near the Liberian capital of Monrovia.

(China Daily November 28, 2003)