China military on ‘high alert’ at Myanmar border after live-fire drill ends
- The PLA said the war in its neighbour’s northern region ‘seriously threatened’ security and stability as well as residents’ safety in both countries
- This week’s joint exercise in Yunnan province is the PLA’s second in the area since Myanmar’s military coup in 2021
An article published by the official PLA Daily said on Thursday that tensions had intensified recently in northern Myanmar, where rebel groups are resisting the country’s military rulers.
While the two countries have been “friendly” neighbours for decades, the war in northern Myanmar has “seriously threatened” security and stability in the border region and “the safety of lives and property of the border residents on both sides”, it said.
“The Chinese military has always been on high alert and will further strengthen border patrol and control, as well as security protection between China and Myanmar,” the article said, stressing that the PLA will take “all necessary measures” to safeguard national sovereignty and the safety of its people.
Myanmar has experienced persistent resistance by rebel groups since its military seized power from the democratically elected government in 2021, sparking civil disobedience.
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China has repeatedly raised concerns over the security of the border region during the unrest, conducting its first live-fire drill since the coup in November, followed by this week’s exercise five months later.
According to the PLA, the latest exercise – a joint drill on Tuesday involving land and air forces – was aimed at improving China’s capacity to “handle various emergencies” on the border.
The article repeated China’s calls for a ceasefire in northern Myanmar, urging “relevant parties to maintain maximum restraint and continue to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation”.
Beijing has attempted to broker talks between Myanmar’s junta and the Three Brotherhood Alliance – ethnic armed groups which launched a major offensive in the northern Shan state in October last year.
Four rounds of discussions have taken place so far, with the third leading to a ceasefire agreement that was reportedly breached a day later by the military junta.
In addition to security, China has also been concerned about the disruption to trade caused by the instability in northern Myanmar.
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A fourth round of peace talks – held last month in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province which shares a border with the Shan state – focused on the resumption of border trade but yielded no significant breakthroughs, according to Irrawaddy, an independent Myanmar news outlet based in Thailand.
Irrawaddy reported on a visit to Myanmar in February by Yunnan governor Wang Yubo. According to the report, Wang and junta chief Min Aung Hlaing discussed the restoration of trade and the flow of goods between Myanmar and Yunnan.
According to the Yunnan government website, Wang also met Myanmar’s commerce minister during the same trip.
