VALKRYIE
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2015
- Messages
- 669
- Reaction score
- -1
- Country
- Location
Government investigating another China shell complaint.
China has again accused Myanmar’s armed forces of allowing their fight with the Kokang armed rebel group to spill over into Chinese territory.
Government forces patrol in Kokang region where fighting with armed ethnic groups is ongoing. Photo: Zarni Phyo /The Myanmar Times
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said at a daily press briefing in Beijing on April 28 that Myanmar army shells had fallen on Chinese territory, without specifying when the incident occurred.
“Recently, some shells from Myanmar have fallen into China causing damage to property, but fortunately no injuries or deaths,” Mr Lei told the press briefing on Tuesday.
“China has already lodged stern representations with Myanmar and demanded they earnestly take effective steps to prevent this from happening again,” Mr Lei added. “Myanmar said they will try to severely restrain the relevant personnel to prevent it from happening again.”
A senior official from the President’s Office told The Myanmar Times yesterday that China’s claim was under investigation.
“The information is being examined, but has not yet been confirmed by the Tatmadaw,” said director U Zaw Htay.
On April 27, the Tatmadaw published a photograph it said showed heavy fighting between government forces and fighters from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on April 23 close to the border with China. The Tatmadaw also said in a statement that it had taken great care to ensure that its shells did not cross the border, even though this had placed limitations on the execution of military manoeuvres during the battle.
A colonel in the Tatmadaw’s Public Relations and Psychological Warfare section said yesterday the allegations from China had not yet been verified.
The Chinese spokesperson’s briefing coincided with the visit there of Thura U Shwe Mann, the influential Speaker of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. The Speaker left for the United States yesterday on a separate trip.
Myanmar formally apologised to China on April 2 for a separate cross-border bombing by one of its aircraft that killed five Chinese farm workers and wounded eight on March 13. Military analysts said the incident highlighted the problems facing the Tatmadaw in pursuing MNDAA fighters close to the border.
Officials said the issue of compensation for the five Chinese villagers would be discussed later, but no subsequent statement on the matter has been issued.
Government investigating another China shell complaint
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me