Thread: Myanmar Border Conflict Tests China

BEIJING—
As fighting continues in northern Myanmar, along China’s southern border, the government in Beijing is grappling with a flood of refugees, as well as questions about how Chinese authorities should respond to the conflict.

Myanmar’s military has declared martial law and a state of emergency in the northern area of the Kokang special region, but that has not put an end to the clashes with armed ethnic rebels.

The Myanmar government says that in addition to the Kokang fighters, Kachin and other ethnic rebel groups have joined the fight, which has already displaced tens of thousands.

Many have fled into China’s Zhenkang County in southern Yunnan province, a key crossing point near where the fighting is taking place. Residents there say that in addition to a flood of refugees, there is now a strong presence of armed forces on the Chinese side to maintain security, raising tensions.

The last round of fighting between rebels and the Myanmar army in 2009 led to the ousting of rebel leader Peng Jiasheng. Peng spent years in hiding, but now has returned and is seeking to reclaim his position as the head of the Kokang autonomous region.

Some of those who have fled are hoping he does just that. Zhao, who works in a restaurant in Zhengkang, near the border, is among those who support Peng.

“Many hope that Peng wins the fight and say that things were much better before he was ousted,” Zhao said. “They say that after Myanmar authorities took over, they have not been treated well,” he added.

Peng’s return to Kokang has also put increasing pressure on the Beijing government because of the sympathies that some Chinese feel for his cause and the fact that Kokang are ethnic Chinese.

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