China: More than 3000 Flee Myanmar after Fighting Along Border

More than 3,000 people from Myanmar have arrived at temporary shelters in Chinese border towns including Wanding, Yunnan province, after fleeing conflict along their country's border, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Myanmar Pan Xuesong said.

    Pan said that the injured, all Myanmar nationals, were taken to hospitals for medical treatment, according to China Daily. The Chinese authority has responded swiftly and handled the situation appropriately. 

    The conflict between ethnic militant forces and the Myanmar military near the border towns of Muse and Kutkai, Myanmar, on Sunday also injured one Chinese national, who was treated at a hospital after being injured by shellfire that strayed across the border.

    In response, China will strengthen control along the China-Myanmar border to protect the lives and property of Chinese citizens there, China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday. China has been closely monitoring the situation, urging all parties in the conflict to exercise restraint, immediately halt military operations and restore peace to avoid escalation, the ministry said. 

    The Chinese military was placed on high alert and will take necessary measures to maintain security, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Sunday.     Eight people, all Myanmar nationals, were killed including one soldier, three police officers, one militia fighter and three civilians and 29 wounded in the conflict between 2 am and 3 pm on Sunday, according to Myanmar's State Counsellor Office.

Source: QNA