The People’s Liberation Army began its three-day live-fire exercise along its border with Myanmar on Tuesday. The exercise comes amid the continued civil unrest and violence in Myanmar.
The ethnic militias have dealt a series of heavy blows to Myanmar's military in the country's northeast, which is near China. Northern Kachin and Shan states in Myanmar had witnessed fierce fighting in which properties on the Chinese side too were damaged. Five people on the Chinese side had sustained injuries in January by a stray artillery shell. China is also worried that the firefight would damage its infrastructure projects in the area.
Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, had recently said his country opposes chaos and war in Myanmar and added that Beijing would go on with “its commitment to restore peace and stability in Myanmar.”
The drills, which will last till Thursday, are being held in four locations including two in Ruili city, located in Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan province, China, near the border with Myanmar.
The spokesperson for the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command, Senior Colonel Tian Junli, said the drill by the Chinese Army aims to test reconnaissance, early warning, and firepower capabilities.
“The units are always prepared to respond to any sudden situations, ensuring the protection of national sovereignty, border stability, and the safety of people’s lives and property,” South China Morning Post quoted him as saying.
According to the Chinese Army, the drill is being held to test troops' ability to "quickly move, block and control, and strike together, and maintain security and stability in the border areas," reported Reuters.
The military had, earlier in November, held similar live-fire drills near the Myanmar border.
