China will gain good will from Mali, ill will from jihadis, and the Tuaregs are uncertain depending on what the Chinese do in Mali, I suppose:
"China has offered between 500 and 600 soldiers," one senior diplomat said. "We don't have details yet on what kind of troops they would be providing."
Another UN diplomat confirmed the numbers, saying: "It is a significant move by China."
Both diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity as talks are continuing. At least 155 of the Chinese troops are expected to be engineers, a UN official said.
I guess the jihadis will put Peking on their target list, now. I mean, just being in a Moslem country pisses jihadis off, right?