On February 4, under a blistering sun and a ground temperature approaching 50°C, China’s 12th peacekeeping infantry battalion in Juba conducted its first live‑fire exercise since arriving in South Sudan. The exercise — described by unit leaders as a rehearsal of ‘‘real combat’’ standards — brought together pistols, rifles and sniper systems to test weapons, personnel and procedures in conditions designed to mirror the mission area’s volatility.
Commanders framed the drills as a practical response to the complex and changing security environment in the UN mission area. Officers emphasised that realistic, high‑intensity training sharpens soldiers’ readiness for rapid response and emergency handling, and that training under stress bolsters both marksmanship and psychological resilience.
The program incorporated prone and standing firing positions, continuous‑fire and rapid‑reaction drills, and scenario elements intended to simulate battlefield confusion. Data collection accompanied each shooting session: rounds impact, score sheets and weapon performance were logged to guide follow‑up maintenance and targeted retraining, a methodical approach that underlines a professional, evidence‑based preparation ethic.
After the range, soldiers debriefed, inspected kit and reviewed target patterns; UN personnel praised the unit’s discipline and contribution to stabilising the mission area. Platoon leaders described the training’s value in building confidence for future operations and in ensuring that doctrine and equipment perform under operational conditions rather than in peacetime garrison settings.
Beyond immediate readiness, the exercise has wider implications. It demonstrates China’s continuing investment in UN peacekeeping as a practical avenue for projecting capability and credibility abroad, while illustrating how the People’s Liberation Army is professionalising expeditionary skills such as live‑fire drills, weapon calibration and data‑driven after‑action review — capabilities that have both defensive utility within peace operations and broader implications for the PLA’s overseas posture.