The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday began live-fire drills with ground and air force units on China’s border with Myanmar.
The military exercise was launched as fighting between Myanmar junta troops and ethnic armed groups and their resistance allies escalated in border areas.
The PLA’s Southern Theatre Command said the drills aim to test the command’s reconnaissance, early warning, multi-dimensional control and firepower capabilities.
“The command troops are always prepared to respond to various emergencies, resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty, border stability and the safety of people’s lives and property,” PLA spokesman Tian Junli said via an official WeChat account on Tuesday.
The exercise is due to run until Thursday.
China brokered a ceasefire between the junta and ethnic Brotherhood Alliance in January after the alliance’s Operation 1027 made sweeping gains in northern Shan State.
However, the agreement collapsed after the junta attacked the alliance’s Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which responded by relaunching Operation 1027 in late June. Alliance forces seized the junta’s Northeastern Command in the northern Shan capital of Lashio in early August.
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing recently alleged “foreign countries” were supporting ethnic armed groups, a veiled shot at China which has long-standing ties with the groups.
Recently, Myanmar warplanes bombed areas near the Chinese border, including Laukkai in Kokang and Laiza in Kachin State.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Min Aung Hlaing two weeks ago in Naypyitaw and warned Beijing would not tolerate baseless accusations against China. He also urged the junta to protect the security of Chinese staff and projects. Wang’s visit came just days after Mandalay resistance groups seized guard posts for Chinese oil and gas pipelines.
The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar issued a warning earlier this month, advising Chinese citizens in Shan State to be cautious, avoid conflict zones, and return to neighboring China if necessary.
