China today lodged a protest to Myanmar after a Chinese citizen was hit by a stray bullet when Myanmar forces and ethnic armed groups exchanged fire in a border town, Foreign Ministry said, calling on the warring parties to halt fighting and exercise restraint.
Military conflicts broke out in the border area in northern Myanmar's Shan state early on Sunday morning with an alliance of three ethnic armed groups launching simultaneous and surprise attacks on government military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai townships as well as a border trade centre there.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China has taken measures to enhance border control in a bid to protect the safety and property of Chinese border residents.
The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar issued a statement last night reminding Chinese citizens in Myanmar to watch out for their own safety by avoiding conflict areas.
China will continue to follow the development of the situation and maintain communication with Myanmar, Geng said at a daily press briefing.
"We strongly hope the parties in the conflict will exercise restraint and immediately halt military operations to avoid escalation of the situation," he said.
He also called on them to take concrete measures to restore peace in the China-Myanmar border area and prevent harm to China's sovereignty as well as the lives and property of border residents.
Eight people were killed yesterday when fighting broke out in northern Myanmar town on the border with China, a region long plagued by ethnic rebel insurgencies.
The clashes are another blow to civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's hopes of forging a nationwide peace agreement after years of war in Myanmar's many ethnic minority border regions.
Last year, Chinese military deployed its force along the border after five people were killed and several others wounded in firing by aMyanmarjet which was reportedly chasing Kokoang rebels in the border areas.
Themain rebel force in Kokang is theMyanmarNational Democratic Alliance Army (MDAA) who are ethnic Chinese and once formed part of Communist Party forces in the region.
The MDAA is led by ethnic Chinese commanderPeng Jiashengwho has reached a peace accord with theMyanmar government which lasted until 2009.
He again resurfaced last year promptingMyanmarto seek Chinese assistance to crackdown on his outfit.
Reports fromMyanmar last year blamedPeng's return as the root cause for resumption of fighting.
Penghas denied any Chinese involvement in interviews to the official media here.
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