China’s military has stated today that it had organised army units and joint air-ground police patrols near its border with Myanmar to maintain security and stability as fighting escalates between Myanmar’s ruling junta and rebel forces. The patrols will focus on areas around Ruili, Zhenkang and other frontline sections in China. Major fighting has occurred in northern Kachin and Shan states in Myanmar, with artillery shells injuring people and damaging property on the Chinese side. The fighting has also threatened infrastructure projects in China.
The Southern Theater of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is organising army units to test troops’ ability to “quickly move, block and control, and strike together in order to maintain security and stability in the border areas.” A unit of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is also scheduled to organise live-fire exercises on the Chinese side of the China-Myanmar border from Aug. 27-29, according to a separate statement from China’s military.
Exercises will be held in areas located south of Ruili, and in other areas around Zhenkang county and Gengma Dai and Va autonomous county in west Yunnan province, the military said. China said the conflict was having a negative effect on stability and social order on the China-Myanmar border. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi also said recently that China would continue “its commitment to restore peace and stability in Myanmar.”
Myanmar’s ruling junta has ceded control of extensive territories, including access to much of its international borders, empowering ethnic armed groups to expand and solidify their hold over regions, as stated in two recent reports. With a population of 55 million, the country has been embroiled in turmoil since February 2021 following the military’s ousting of an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking widespread protests.
The peaceful street demonstrations faced brutal repression, leading to the emergence of an armed resistance movement. This powerful alliance with Myanmar’s ethnic rebel armies represents the most significant challenge to the military in decades. According to the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M), the junta has lost control over 86% of the country’s territory and 67% of the population, rendering its authority ineffective.
Team Bharatshakti
(With inputs from Reuters)
