BEIJING: Following reports that an artillery shell had exploded across the border, Beijing announced on Thursday ( Jan 4 ) that it would take” all necessary measures” to protect its citizens and expressed” strong dissatisfaction” that fighting in neighboring Myanmar had resulted in Chinese casualties.
Since October, when an ally of ethnic minority groups launched an offensive against the military dictatorship, military conflict has raged in Myanmar’s northern Shan position.
On Wednesday, a number of Chinese media outlets reported that an artillery tank from Myanmar had crossed the border in the Yunnan province city of Nansan, where it exploded and injured numerous people.
The information or accompanying photos posted on social media could not be independently verified by AFP.
China “expresses powerful frustration that the military conflict has caused Foreign casualties,” according to foreign ministry official Wang Wenbin, who also added that Beijing “made grave representations to the appropriate parties” when asked about the reports at a regular media briefing on Thursday.
According to Wang,” China after more demands that all parties to the conflict in northern Myanmar instantly end hostilities and take action to stop further harmful incidents that endanger border peace and tranquility.”
He declared that” China may take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of its members ‘ lives and property.”
Wang omitted to say how many people had died or been hurt in the affair.
According to analysts, the tribal alliance’s seizure of a number of border towns and ports that are essential for business with China poses the junta with its greatest military challenge since taking power in 2021.
Beijing claimed last month that it had reached a “temporary peace” through negotiations between the Myanmar war and the allied ethnic armed groups.
Yet, fighting has persisted in some areas of Shan state, and last week, the Chinese military requested that its citizens leave a region near the shared border due to security concerns.