PLA drill to safeguard China's interests

China started a live-fire drill in Southwest China's Yunnan province near the Myanmar border on Tuesday after having notified Myanmar in advance. The military exercise, which involves troops from the People's Liberation Army and Air Force, is in accordance with accepted international practice and the agreement reached between China and Myanmar, the PLA Chengdu Military Area Command said on Monday.

China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the military exercise is "a regular activity within the scope of the military's mission". Since the misjudged bombings by Myanmar Air Force pursuing rebels in northern Myanmar in March and May killed some people in Yunnan, it was expected that China would take appropriate measures to protect its citizens living in areas near its border with Myanmar.

Despite all the diplomatic efforts to rebuild trust between the two countries, including Myanmar Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin's visit to Beijing in April when he officially apologized for the March bombing, the China-Myanmar border area is still restive. For instance, the bombing on May 14 in Yunnan's Zhenkang county reportedly injured at least five Chinese nationals.