Two water wells shared by border villages of China and Myanmar. (Photo : www.en.ynta.gov.cn)
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is set to conduct live-ammunition drills on June 2, Tuesday, in an area of Yunnan Province near the border with Myanmar, the China Daily reported.
According to the report, the exercise shows China's determination to maintain border security and the safety of its citizens.
The move came after two bombings allegedly by Myanmar in March and May which killed and injured some people in Yunnan near the border. The Chinese government protested the incident and called for an investigation, the report said.
Zhao Picong, spokesman for the PLA Chengdu Military Area Command, said on June 1, Monday, that the drill will involve the PLA army and air force troops and will be conducted based on training plans.
According to a statement released by the PLA, no aircraft will be allowed to enter the airspace without permission during the duration of the drill and vehicles entering border areas in Gengma and Zhenkang counties will be controlled.
The PLA said that the public's work will not be affected by the exercise since local people will not be allowed to enter the drill areas without permission.
The report said that China has already informed Myanmar of the drill and has pledged to comply with international practices as well as the agreements between the two countries and their military forces.
Xinhua News Agency reported that five people died in Gengma county in the first bombing on March 13, and on May 14, five people were injured in Zhenkang country in the second bombing.
Jia Duqiang, an expert on Southeast Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the drill indicates that China considers the unrest in northern Myanmar as a threat to Chinese citizens in the border.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that the drill is "a regular activity within the scope of the military's mission."
