China ramps up pressure for Myanmar peace talks
China has urged all warring parties in Myanmar to halt hostilities and begin peace talks after escalating clashes saw the military regime lose more territory including another major border town last week.
Speaking at a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized the need for all parties involved to cease hostilities and engage in dialogue to resolve disputes peacefully.
The statement from China comes as tensions continue to rise in Myanmar, with the military junta suffering setbacks, including the loss of Myawaddy, a key border trading hub on the Thai border, to ethnic Karen armed groups and their resistance allies.
In response to the deteriorating situation, China's state broadcaster CCTV announced that the Chinese military would conduct air defense and live-fire drills near the border with Myanmar. These exercises, the second round this month, are intended to safeguard national sovereignty, border stability, and the safety of people's lives and property.
The junta, which seized power in a coup against a democratically elected government in 2021, is facing a formidable challenge from a nationwide armed resistance composed of ethnic armies and anti-regime forces. This resistance, known as Operation 1027, launched a coordinated offensive last October, resulting in a series of defeats for the junta across the country.
With strategic border regions adjacent to India, China, and Bangladesh slipping from its control, the junta finds itself increasingly vulnerable.
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