China Warns Border Instability As Death Toll Rises In Myanmar Unrest

Feb 17, 2015 04:58 AM EST

(Photo : Reuters) People fleeing from Laukkai, the capital of Kokang in Shan State, arrive at Mandalay highway bus station February 14, 2015.

The rising death toll and the intensifying violence in Myanmar's northeastern Shan state had sparked alarm in neighboring China.

The fighting between Myanmar's army and the ethnic Kokang rebels in a region bordering Myanmar and China had left dozens killed in the past week.

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China warned of threats to border stability if both parties do not exercise restraint.

Xinhua news agency said more than 30,000 Myanmar refugees have fled to China's Yunnan province to escape from the growing violence at the border.

"Residents from Myanmar have crossed into China more than 30,000 times since Feb. 9," Yunnan's Lincang City said in a statement.

"The Chinese side provided necessary aid and supplies ... offering them food, medicine and quarantine services." the office added.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying had urged both the army and the rebels to control their moves, as increased fighting between them will derange the stability in the China-Myanmar border as well as security within China.

China stressed it respects Myanmar's "territorial integrity" but remains committed not to let any group taint the China-Myanmar relations.

The resurgence of conflict in the Kokang area has blocked efforts to agree on a countrywide ceasefire, which was due to be signed last week.

Myanmar authorities said that while the state was working on its efforts to reach a ceasefire deal, rebels in the Shan state ambushed army troops.

Myanmar also appealed to China to rein in any of its local officials found to be assisting the rebels on the border.

The military has launched airstrikes against rebels who were trying to take control over the town of Laukkai.

Myanmar's President Thein Sein has vowed to keep a tight grip on Myanmar's territory.

The situation in the Kokang region has been relatively calm since 2009, until the army launched a major offensive against the Kokang rebels on February 9th, which sent thousands of people into the Chinese border.

TagsMyanmar, kokang rebels, myanmar-china relations