Chinese Military Conducts Patrols, Shooting Drills Near Myanmar Border

Illustration of Chinese military exercises. (Wikimedia Commons/DOD/US Navy/Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro)

JAKARTA - China's military will conduct patrols and live-fire exercises near the Myanmar border, as fighting between rebel forces and the military junta escalates.

The Chinese military said in an announcement Monday that it has organized army units and joint air-ground police patrols near its border with Myanmar to maintain security and stability.

The patrols will focus on areas around Ruili, Zhenkang and other frontline areas in China, the military said in a statement.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater organized the army units to test the troops' ability to "move quickly, block and control, and strike together, and maintain security and stability in border areas," the military said, as reported by Reuters on August 26.

A unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army is also scheduled to conduct live-fire exercises on the Chinese side of the China-Myanmar border from August 27-29, according to a separate statement from the Chinese military.

The exercises will be held in areas south of Ruili and in other areas around Zhenkang and the Gengma Dai and Va autonomous regions in western Yunnan province, the military said.

Heavy fighting has been reported in Myanmar's northern Kachin and Shan states, with artillery shells injuring people and damaging property on the Chinese side and also threatening infrastructure projects in China.

China said the conflict has negatively impacted stability and social order on the China-Myanmar border.

Previously, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said recently that China will continue its "commitment to restoring peace and stability in Myanmar."