PLA conducts live-fire drills along border with Myanmar

Live-fire drills being conducted on the Chinese side of the China-Myanmar border since Saturday are aimed at testing the mobility, border control abilities and firepower capabilities of the military units so that the People's Liberation Army is ready for any emergency, the PLA Daily said.

Armed conflicts have been taking place recently in Myanmar, leading to casualties and complicating the security situation. It is the responsibility of the PLA to safeguard border security and protect the lives and property of people living in the border areas, the PLA Daily said on Sunday.

The live-fire drills on the Chinese side of the China-Myanmar border will boost the sense of responsibility and vigilance of the troops against potential threats and crises. It will also help to enhance the military units' capability in border control, the official newspaper of the PLA said.?According to a statement from the PLA's Southern Theater Command on Sunday, the drills started at 9 am on Saturday in southeastern Yunnan province and will last for a few days. Different task forces will work together in a series of missions including border control and the launching of precise strikes.

Senior Colonel Tian Junli, a spokesman for the command, said on Saturday that the live-fire drills are being carried out in accordance with the annual training plan.

Tian emphasized that the forces of the theater command are always prepared to respond to any emergency, to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, border stability and people's lives and property.

China and Myanmar share a border of more than 2,000 kilometers. China is highly concerned about the conflicts in Myanmar and has urged all sides to cease fire and start peaceful dialogues to prevent the situation from escalating further, the PLA Daily said.

It added that stability along the China-Myanmar border is important to safeguard the livelihood of people from both countries.