China's army held drills near its border with Myanmar on Tuesday, state media reported, in a show of strength from Beijing following weeks of clashes between ethnic rebels and Myanmar's military. Tens of thousands of people have fled to China in recent months to escape the battles in Myanmar's restive borderlands. The bloodshed has threatened to derail a push by de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to end decades of fighting with ethnic insurgents.
China's infantry, artillery and air force took part in Tuesday's exercise, the official Xinhua news agency said, adding the drills were part of annual training. "The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) forces on Tuesday staged an air-ground, live-fire drill in south China, close to the border with Myanmar," Xinhua said.