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| China ups Lebanon force to 1,000 | China ups Lebanon force to 1,000 |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| China will increase its peacekeeping presence in Lebanon to 1,000 troops, Premier Wen Jiabao has confirmed. | China will increase its peacekeeping presence in Lebanon to 1,000 troops, Premier Wen Jiabao has confirmed. |
| The move would make China one of the largest contributors to a strengthened UN force designed to keep the peace. | The move would make China one of the largest contributors to a strengthened UN force designed to keep the peace. |
| It would also signal that China, now the world's fourth largest economy, was starting to lift its diplomacy in areas it had previously not seen as vital. | It would also signal that China, now the world's fourth largest economy, was starting to lift its diplomacy in areas it had previously not seen as vital. |
| The UN wants to raise troop numbers in southern Lebanon to 15,000 as part of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. | The UN wants to raise troop numbers in southern Lebanon to 15,000 as part of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. |
| It follows August's UN-brokered truce which ended 34 days of fighting between Israel and the militant Hezbollah movement. | It follows August's UN-brokered truce which ended 34 days of fighting between Israel and the militant Hezbollah movement. |
| More than 1,100 Lebanese - mostly civilians - were killed during the war. More than 150 Israelis - mainly soldiers - were also killed. | |
| Leading role | Leading role |
| UN TROOP DEPLOYMENTS France - lead role, 2,000 troopsItaly - 2,500-3,000 troopsBangladesh - two battalions (2,000 troops)China - 1,000 troopsMalaysia - one battalionSpain - mechanised battalionIndonesia - battalion and engineering companyNepal - one battalionDenmark - at least two shipsPoland - 500 troopsBelgium - 400 troopsFinland - 250 troopsGermany - maritime/border patrols, no combat troopsNorway - 100 soldiers href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5257128.stm" class="">Crisis in facts and figures Mr Wen made the announcement - which had been hinted at last week - following talks in Beijing with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. | |
| "China is very concerned about the situation in Lebanon and hopes it can be fundamentally resolved," Mr Wen said. | "China is very concerned about the situation in Lebanon and hopes it can be fundamentally resolved," Mr Wen said. |
| Mr Prodi said it showed China was taking on a greater diplomatic role. | Mr Prodi said it showed China was taking on a greater diplomatic role. |
| "This shows that China is assuming more and more international responsibility," he said. | "This shows that China is assuming more and more international responsibility," he said. |
| In the past, China has been reluctant to play leading roles in UN peacekeeping missions. | In the past, China has been reluctant to play leading roles in UN peacekeeping missions. |
| But as its economy has grown more powerful, it has faced calls from the US and EU to play a greater role. It own foreign policy has shifted so that ensuring access to natural resources like oil is now a priority. | But as its economy has grown more powerful, it has faced calls from the US and EU to play a greater role. It own foreign policy has shifted so that ensuring access to natural resources like oil is now a priority. |
| Earlier this year - before the fighting between Israel an Hezbollah - China sent 180 peacekeepers to the Unifil force in Lebanon, its first peacekeeping contingent to the Middle East. | Earlier this year - before the fighting between Israel an Hezbollah - China sent 180 peacekeepers to the Unifil force in Lebanon, its first peacekeeping contingent to the Middle East. |
| A rotating force of about 2,000 Unifil peacekeepers have been stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978. | A rotating force of about 2,000 Unifil peacekeepers have been stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978. |
| Under Resolution 1701, the expanded force will support the Lebanese army taking over areas that have been controlled by Hezbollah since Israel ended its occupation of the south in 2000. | Under Resolution 1701, the expanded force will support the Lebanese army taking over areas that have been controlled by Hezbollah since Israel ended its occupation of the south in 2000. |