As the civil war in Myanmar continues to escalate, China has taken significant steps to safeguard its border regions by conducting military patrols near the Myanmar border. This move reflects Beijing’s growing concern over the potential spillover effects of the intense fighting occurring just across the border.
This week, China’s military deployed troops to Yunnan province, located in southwestern China, with the specific aim of testing their ability to maintain security in the border areas. The Southern Theater Command of China’s military announced the deployment on Monday, emphasizing the importance of ensuring stability in the region amidst the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.
The civil war in Myanmar has been particularly fierce in the country’s northeast, close to the Chinese border, where an alliance of ethnic militias has been successfully challenging Myanmar’s military forces. The situation is not without risk for China, as evidenced by an incident in January when a stray artillery shell from Myanmar injured five people on the Chinese side of the border.
To further bolster its security measures, China has planned a series of live-fire drills from Tuesday to Thursday in four locations, including two in Ruili city, a key border town in Yunnan. These exercises aim to enhance the military’s ability to quickly mobilize, control, and strike in coordination with joint air-ground patrols. The Southern Theater Command highlighted that these drills are crucial for ensuring the region’s security.
This is not the first time China has conducted such drills. In November, the military also held live-fire exercises near the Myanmar border, underscoring the ongoing security concerns in the area.
China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, has made it clear that Beijing opposes the chaos and war in Myanmar. Earlier this year, China played a role in brokering a ceasefire between the conflicting parties in Myanmar, but this agreement collapsed in June when one of the ethnic militias, part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, resumed attacks.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of Myanmar’s military government, has recently accused foreign countries of supporting the ethnic militias, with China likely being one of the nations he was alluding to, given its long-standing ties with these groups.
During a visit to Myanmar, Wang Yi reiterated China’s opposition to the ongoing violence in Shan state, a region deeply affected by the conflict. He also expressed hope that Myanmar’s government would take effective measures to protect Chinese personnel and projects within the country.
In light of the ongoing violence, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar has issued warnings to Chinese citizens residing in Shan state, advising them to strengthen their security precautions, avoid conflict zones, or consider returning to China for their safety.
As the situation in Myanmar remains volatile, China continues to take proactive measures to protect its interests and ensure stability along its borders.