China urges Burma to 'prevent stray bullets' from entering Chinese territory

'We are concerned at the armed clashes in northern Myanmar injuring Chinese border residents,' says military official

Thousands of refugees fled into Chinese territory in November due to fighting in northern Myanmar, with minor damage and injuries reported in China from stray shells and bullets (AFP)

China has urged Burma officials to ensure peace and stability along the border between the two countries and keep its domestic conflicts away from the harm of Chinese residents.

A leading Chinese military official said the country was “concerned” about the armed clashes in northern Burma, which have injured border residents in recent weeks, and implored Burmese officials to “prevent stray bullets” from entering into Chinese territory.

Speaking during a four-day visit to Burma, Zhao Zongqi, commander of the country's western military district, said: “China is concerned at the armed clashes in northern Myanmar injuring Chinese border residents, and hopes Myanmar can strengthen border management, prevent stray bullets entering into China and maintain the peace and tranquility of the border.”

In response, Burmese officials said the country would "appropriately handle" the border issue and ensure stability to prevent injuries for Chinese residents.

A series of attacks on Burma security forces in November, which the government has blamed on ethnic armed groups, sent more than 3,000 Burmese refugees crossing into China to escape the violence, with minor damage reported over the border from stray shells and bullets.

China now worries about the risk of violence spilling over as it did last year, killing five of its people.

The country is already involved in the peace process, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi telling a Burmese delegation last month that China was willing to play a constructive role.

The conflict in Burma is a series of ongoing insurgencies that began after the country became independent from the UK in 1948. It has been described as one of the world’s longest-running civil wars, and has spilled over into Chinese territory many times.

In a new development last month, the UN warned that Rohingya Muslims in the country were potenially being "ethnically cleansed" by Burmese troops. The Burmese government has denied such accusations.

Additional reporting by Reuters