Artillery shells from fighting between Myanmar’s military and ethnic rebels struck a border town in China’s Yunnan province on December 28, injuring five people and damaging homes. China strongly condemned the incident and urged an immediate ceasefire.
Ceasefire demanded after civilians injured
Stray shells struck the Chinese border town of Wanding, located just across the narrow river from Myanmar. Videos circulated on social media showed plumes of smoke and what appeared to be artillery explosions inside Chinese territory.
Five people were injured, including a 16-year-old student and an elderly woman over 60 years old. Most suffered minor injuries from flying glass, but the student was hospitalized with face and chest injuries, according to Chinese state media [1].
China lodged a formal protest with Myanmar and urged authorities to investigate the incident and punish those responsible. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also called for an immediate ceasefire, saying “China urges Myanmar to take China’s concerns seriously and avoid repetition of such incidents” [2].
Fighting threatens major trade hub
The stray shells came from clashes in Myanmar’s Shan State, where government troops have been battling the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The KIA is one of several ethnic rebel groups fighting Myanmar’s military junta for greater rights and autonomy [3].
The clashes took place near Laukkai, an important trading hub along Myanmar’s border with China. Intensified fighting in the area prompted Chinese officials to urge citizens to evacuate. China’s embassy warned its nationals to leave “as soon as possible” due to “escalating military tension, unpredictable impacts on personal safety and threats of attacks” [4].
Laukkai sits along a key overland trade route between China and Myanmar, raising concerns about potential economic impacts. China has substantial business and infrastructure investments in Myanmar, including oil and gas pipelines running through Shan State. Disruptions could affect strategic Chinese interests [5].
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Main belligerents | Myanmar military vs Kachin Independence Army rebels |
| Location of clashes | Laukkai city, Shan State, Myanmar |
| Areas affected | Border towns in China’s Yunnan province |
Calls for China to step up mediation
The incident put further pressure on China to help mediate Myanmar’s internal conflicts. Earlier ceasefire talks brokered by China between Myanmar’s junta and major ethnic armed groups failed in late 2022.
Analysts say China has strategic interests in quelling the unrest, but faces limitations in its influence over Myanmar [6].
“China has been both a friend and ally of Myanmar’s military regime, supplying arms and providing diplomatic cover in global forums following the 2021 coup. But China’s support also has limits,” wrote Min Zin, a Myanmar exile researcher [7].
The fighting threatens Chinese economic assets and opens the door for competitors, Min argued. This gives China incentives to press harder for peace, but complex ethnic dynamics have so far stymied progress.
Concerns about growing instability
Continued clashes between Myanmar’s military rulers and democratic opposition have kept the country in turmoil since the military coup in February 2021. The unrest also displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Myanmar and sent refugees fleeing over the border into China [8].
December’s border incident fueled worries that Myanmar could descend into wider civil war. Laukkai saw some of the most intense battles between the military and KIA rebels since the coup. A protracted conflict could further threaten border stability [9].
The clashes also heightened ethnic and nationalist tensions. Myanmar students protested at the Chinese Embassy over China’s position seen as supportive toward the military regime. Meanwhile, Chinese nationalists called for retribution after the shells injured Chinese citizens [10].
Such nationalist reactions on both sides have disrupted past attempts at mediation. As Myanmar spirals further into turmoil, nationalist passions threaten to undermine China’s interests in stability along its borders.
Outlook remains uncertain
China will likely increase pressure on Myanmar to halt military operations and investigate the border incident. But few expect an immediate breakthrough, given the complex dynamics at play.
If unrest continues destabilizing border regions, it could test China’s patience and forbearance toward the regime in Myanmar, wrote Sebastian Strangio, author and Southeast Asia editor at The Diplomat [11].
However, China has limited realistic options other than continuing attempts at brokering piecemeal ceasefires. Myanmar’s military is unlikely to bow to external pressure as it struggles to impose control internally. Without a wider political solution, border tensions seem set to continue plaguing China-Myanmar relations into 2024 and beyond.
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