China warns Myanmar of ‘decisive action’ after border tension

March 14, 2015 07:48 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 05:13 pm IST - Beijing

China on Saturday deployed fighter jets to patrol its border with Myanmar and warned its neighbour of “firm and decisive action” after four Chinese were killed when a Myanmar’s jet dropped a bomb targeting separatist rebels.

No further deadly stray fire incidents should happen or the Chinese military will take “firm and decisive action” to protect the safety of its people, senior Chinese military official Fan Changlong cautioned Myanmar.

Fan, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission told Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Defence Services on phone, after a bomb dropped by a warplane on Friday killed four Chinese in Yunnan province in southwest China, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Fan called on Myanmar to seriously investigate the incident, and urged the Myanmar side to severely punish the perpetrators, as well as apologise to and compensate the families of the victims.

Myanmar’s warplanes have on several occasions crossed the China-Myanmar border and stray fire has caused casualties and loss of property to the Chinese people, Fan said.

He voiced hoped that Myanmar would settle the incident well and work with China to ensure the safety and stability of the border areas.

Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar side understood China’s feelings and assured that it would send personnel to jointly investigate the incident with the Chinese side.

Hlaing also promised to properly handle relevant issues and hold relevant people accountable, the report said.

Last night Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin summoned Myanmar ambassador Thit Linn Ohn in Beijing and lodged a diplomatic protest over the incident.

Following the incident, China’s air force deployed fighter jets to patrol the China-Myanmar border, the military said.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force dispatched several batches of fighter jets yesterday to “track, monitor, warn and chase away” Myanmar military planes flying close to the Chinese border, said air force spokesman Shen Jinke.

China’s concerns rose as fighting between Myanmar’s rebel National Democratic Alliance Army (MDAA) headed by ethnic Chinese commander Peng Jiasheng and the Myanmar army has intensified in recent months resulting in influx of refugees into China. Peng had reached a peace accord with the Myanmar government which lasted until 2009.

The fighting again started recently prompting Myanmar to seek Chinese assistance to put it down.

China has provided shelter for Myanmar refugees fleeing to Yunnan with necessary relief and temporary settlements.

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