China's military to conduct armed patrols, live-fire exercises near Myanmar border

PHOTO CAPTION: A member of Bamar People's Liberation Army (BPLA) stands guard in territory belonging to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), in Karen State, Myanmar, February 18, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer

BEIJING (Reuters) -China's military said on Monday it had organised army units and joint air-ground police patrols near its border with Myanmar to maintain security and stability as fighting between Myanmar's ruling junta and rebel forces escalates.

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

Major fighting has occurred in northern Kachin and Shan states in Myanmar, with artillery shells injuring people and damaging property on the Chinese side, and also threatening 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, and maintain security and stability in the border areas," the military said.

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."

(Reporting by Bernard Orr and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Michael Perry and Lincoln Feast.)