China military says it conducted armed patrols, live-fire exercises near Myanmar border
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BEIJING – China’s military has organised army units and joint air-ground police patrols near the Myanmar border to maintain security and stability as fighting between Myanmar’s ruling junta and rebel forces escalates.
The patrols will focus on Ruili, Zhenkang and other front-line sections in China, the military said in a statement on Aug 26.
Major fighting has occurred in northern Kachin and Shan states in Myanmar, with artillery shells injuring people and damaging property on the Chinese side and also threatening infrastructure projects in China.
The Southern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organised army units to test troops’ ability to “quickly move, block and control, and strike together, and maintain security and stability in the border areas”, the military said.
A unit of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is scheduled to organise live-fire exercises on the Chinese side of the China-Myanmar border from Aug 27 to 29, according to a separate statement from China’s military.
Exercises will be held in areas located south of Ruili, in other areas around Zhenkang county and Gengma Dai and Va autonomous county in west Yunnan province, the military said.
China has said the conflict was having a negative effect on stability and social order on the China-Myanmar border. Its Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said recently that China would continue “its commitment to restore peace and stability in Myanmar”. REUTERS
