An official from China’s Foreign Ministry claims that after fighting broke out between Myanmar’s junta and rebel forces who wandered into a small hamlet close to their border, five people suffered injuries as a result of artillery rounds.
Armed fighting has erupted in the north since late October, prompting calls for a ceasefire from neighboring China, which has also enabled discussions between the two sides.
Myanmar Artillery Shells Land In China, Wounding 5 People And Angering Beijing
“China … strongly deplores the Chinese casualties caused by the conflict and has already lodged serious representations with the relevant parties,” said Wang Wenbin, the spokeswoman for the Chinese government.
“China once again asks all parties to the conflict to cease fire and stop fighting, and take measures to prevent the recurrence of such vicious incidents,” Wang said at a weekly news conference.
He added that China would take the appropriate precautions to protect its citizens’ lives and property.
Earlier, the state-run Global Times newspaper said that five people were rushed to hospital in Nansan, a subtropical town near the country, after being injured by stray shells on Wednesday.
The paper shared a video of the incident on social media, showing one guy lying on the ground while people yelled, “Call the cops!”
Myanmar Artillery Shells Land In China, Wounding 5 People And Angering Beijing
According to the video, officials in Zhenkang, a city in the southern province of Yunnan, acknowledged shelling had strayed from Laukkai, in Myanmar’s northern area of Kokang, at around 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
The incident comes after China’s embassy asked its citizens to leave Laukkai as soon as possible due to rising security dangers last week.
Kokang, in Myanmar’s Shan state, has been a turbulent and restive region for years.
Shells from the area landed over the border in Yunnan in 2015 during combat between Myanmar government troops and rebels, hurting one Chinese and four Myanmar citizens and infuriating Beijing.
During the period, some battles occurred as close to the China-Myanmar border as 500 meters (1,640 ft). According to Chinese state media and rights groups, confrontations in the same area drove tens of thousands to escape across the border into China in 2009.
In mid-December, the UN projected that more than 660,000 people had been displaced in Myanmar since October 27, bringing the total to a record 2.6 million.
Myanmar Artillery Shells Land In China, Wounding 5 People And Angering Beijing
China has encouraged citizens to avoid traveling to the north and to seek safety or return home.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a country in Southeast Asia. It shares borders with Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand.
The capital city is Naypyidaw, but the largest city is Yangon. It has a diverse culture influenced by its neighboring countries and is home to various ethnic groups.
The country has a rich history and is known for its ancient temples, including the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. Despite its cultural and historical significance, Myanmar has faced political challenges and human rights issues in recent years.
SOURCE – CNN
