In 1990, the Chinese military dispatches five military observers to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization beginning the country's involvement with UN Peacekeeping Operations.

In 1992, the Chinese military dispatches an engineering unit of 400 troops to the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia, the first military unit committed by China to UN peacekeeping.

In 2001, the Ministry of National Defense's Peacekeeping Affairs Office is established, responsible for coordinating and managing the peacekeeping affairs of China's armed forces, and conducting international peacekeeping exchanges. The office was restructured into the Peacekeeping Affairs Center of the MND in 2018.

In 2003, the Chinese military dispatches 218 peacekeepers to the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and 558 troops to the UN Mission in Liberia.

In 2006, the Chinese military dispatches 182 peacekeepers to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon and 435 troops to the UN Mission in Sudan.

In 2007, Major General Zhao Jingmin is appointed as Force Commander of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, becoming the first Chinese military officer to assume a senior command position in UN peacekeeping forces.

In 2009, the MND's Peacekeeping Center is established, which takes over the responsibility for peacekeeping training, research and international cooperation for China's armed forces. In 2018, the center was transformed into the Training Base under the newly established Peacekeeping Affairs Center of the MND.

In 2009, the Chinese military holds a joint exercise "Peacekeeping Mission-2009" with its Mongolian counterparts. It is China's first joint peacekeeping exercise with a foreign force.

In 2010, the MND's Peacekeeping Affairs Office and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations co-host the UN Senior Mission Leaders' Course in Beijing — the first senior-level peacekeeping training program held by the Chinese military.

In 2013, the Chinese military dispatches 395 troops to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.

In 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping at the UN headquarters in New York and puts forth four propositions and six measures that China will take to support and improve the UN peacekeeping.

In 2017, the 8,000-strong Chinese peacekeeping standby force completes its registration in the Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System.

Since 1990, the Chinese military has sent more than 50,000 officers and soldiers to participate in UN peacekeeping missions in more than 20 countries and regions.

Currently, China is the second-largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget and the top contributor of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, with nearly 2,000 Chinese troops serving in six peacekeeping missions.