In a significant move, China’s military has deployed troops to Yunnan province in southwestern China, near the Myanmar border, to conduct armed patrols and live-fire drills. The deployment, which began on Monday, aims to test the military’s ability to maintain security in border areas amid concerns over potential fallout from the fierce fighting in Myanmar’s civil war.
The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese military announced that the troops will carry out armed patrols, joint air-ground patrols, and live-fire drills in four locations, including two in Ruili city, from Tuesday to Thursday. The exercises are designed to test the military’s ability to mobilize quickly, block, and control, as well as strike together.
The deployment comes as an alliance of ethnic militias has dealt a series of setbacks to Myanmar’s military in the country’s northeast, near the Chinese border. In January, five people were injured on the Chinese side by a stray artillery shell, highlighting the risks of the conflict spilling over into China.
China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, has expressed opposition to the chaos and war in Myanmar, and Beijing helped broker a cease-fire in January, which later fell apart. Wang has also expressed hope that Myanmar will effectively safeguard the safety of Chinese personnel and projects in the country.
The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar has issued a reminder to citizens in Shan state to strengthen their security precautions and stay away from conflict zones or return to China. The deployment of troops to Yunnan province is seen as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and security of Chinese citizens and interests in the region.
