A 21-member Chinese peacekeeping squad left Beijing Wednesday to join the United Nations mission in East Timor.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A 21-member Chinese peacekeeping squad left Beijing Wednesday to join the United Nations mission in East Timor.

    The squad, with an average age of 35, are expected to replace their counterparts and stay in East Timor for one year, said a statement from the Ministry of Public Security.

    Seven out of the 21 police personnel had previously participated in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

    The squad, which includes staff from the criminal investigation, public security, traffic and entry and exit sections in the southeastern Jiangxi Province, all passed strict exams in the regional situation, world affairs, international law, driving, first aid, and English.

A 21-member Chinese peacekeeping squad left Beijing Wednesday to join the United Nations mission in East Timor.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Since January 2000, China has sent 1,395 police on UN peacekeeping missions to East Timor, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Afghanistan, Haiti and Sudan.

    No Chinese peacekeeper has been killed or injured, and none has broken laws and regulations, nor was anyone ordered to be sent back, said the statement.

    Portuguese-speaking East Timor, an island south of Indonesia and northeast of Australia, became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century in 2002.

    China sent its first batch of peacekeepers to East Timor in January 2000 to help restore security after factional violence.