A decade has passed since the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) faced its most sobering modern trial on the international stage. In the volatile corridors of Mali and South Sudan in 2016, three young soldiers—Shen Liangliang, Li Lei, and Yang Shupeng—lost their lives while serving under the United Nations flag. As the Qingming Festival approaches, the rituals of remembrance held from Juba to the plains of Henan province reflect more than just personal grief; they underscore China’s evolving identity as a global security actor.
In South Sudan’s capital, Juba, current members of the 12th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion stood in silent formation this week, their blue berets stark against the dusty heat. The ceremony, attended by Ambassador Ma Qiang and local Chinese expatriates, centered on the legacy of Li and Yang, who were killed when an RPG struck their armored vehicle during a chaotic flare-up between local factions. The presence of the battle-scarred 'Vehicle 105' serves as a permanent tactical and spiritual monument for the troops currently stationed in one of the UN’s most dangerous missions.
Simultaneously, in the Chinese heartland, the state has institutionalized the memory of these 'martyrs' to bolster domestic military resolve. In the barracks of the 78th and 83rd Group Armies, the names of the fallen are integrated into daily rolls, and their personal effects are curated in 'hero rooms.' For the PLA, these figures bridge the gap between the revolutionary myths of the Long March or the Korean War and the modern reality of professional power projection in the 21st century.
This commemorative narrative serves a dual strategic purpose. Globally, it allows Beijing to present a 'blood-stained' credential of its commitment to international stability, countering narratives of a purely mercantilist foreign policy. Domestically, the stories of Shen, Li, and Yang are leveraged to inspire a new generation of recruits. In Shen’s hometown of Wenxian, the integration of his sacrifice into the school curriculum and the local exhibition halls ensures that the cost of China’s global ambitions is understood as a matter of national honor rather than a geopolitical liability.
As Chinese peacekeepers continue to operate in high-risk zones like Lebanon and the Abyei region, the legacy of 2016 remains the primary psychological touchstone. For the PLA, which has not fought a major conventional war in decades, these peacekeeping missions provide essential, albeit perilous, 'real-world' operational experience. The continued focus on these three individuals suggests that for Beijing, the sacrifices made a decade ago are not just history—they are the foundational myths of a military that is increasingly looking beyond its own borders.