China is facing a huge refugee crisis near its border towns after fighting broke out in Myanmar's town of Muse and Kutkai last weekend, leaving scores of people homeless and injured.

Beijing claims that it has currently provided shelter to nearly 3,000 Myanmar refugees, many of whom have been taken to hospitals for medical treatment. Most of these refugees have taken shelter in the south-western province of Yunnan, which shares a long porous border with Burma.

Like Us on Facebook

In a strong statement issued by China's foreign ministry, Beijing's desperation for normalcy to return in Burma's border areas was clearly visible.  

 "We strongly hope that both sides (insurgent groups) involved in the clash exercise restraint," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a news briefing. "China is willing to keep playing a constructive role in Myanmar's internal peace process, in according with Myanmar's wishes."

Geng also confirmed that only one Chinese citizen has been injured and violence in border areas has already subsided.

The ethnic violence on China-Myanmar border could not have come at a worse time, given that Aung San Suu Kyi's government is already grappling with sudden escalation of violence against Rohingya Muslims in north-western state of Rakhine.      

The sudden violence has forced hordes of Rohingya Muslims to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh, while thousands from Rohingya community have taken to streets to raise their voice against the government.

The issues of insurgency in border areas and violence against Rohingya Muslims have been posing grave challenge to Myanmar for several decades. Incidentally, Myanmar's ethnic violence was one of the main talking points during Aung San Suu Kyi's historic visit to China in August. 

TagsMyanmar, China and Myanmar, Ethnic Violence in Myanmar, burma