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Chinese navy visits Myanmar in ‘show of friendship’ following upsurge in fighting along border

  • The visit, which will include joint naval security exercises, comes as armed rebel groups have taken over a series of key locations along the border
  • The militias reportedly helped a recent crackdown on cybercrime in the region, prompting speculation Beijing may change its Myanmar strategy

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Senior officers from the Myanmar Navy welcome their Chinese counterparts to Myanmar on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE
Chinese warships are visiting Myanmar, highlighting the strong relationship between the two countries’ militaries amid recent clashes in border regions that threaten to complicate relations.
The PLA Navy ships, including the Zibo, a guided-missile destroyer, and the Jinzhou, a guided-missile frigate, arrived in Yangon on Monday for a four-day visit and were met by senior Myanmese officers, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday.

The Chinese delegation will take part in “professional exchanges, cultural and sports competitions, and mutual visits to military facilities with officers and sailors of the Myanmar Navy”, according to the report.

A spokesman for the ruling junta Zaw Min Tun confirmed that the two warships and a supply vessel, carrying more than 700 sailors between them, had arrived at Thilawa port on Monday ahead of “naval security exercises between Myanmar and China”, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

He did not give further information about the exercises, but said the visit reflected the “strong friendship” between the two militaries.

It is the first Chinese naval visit to the country since 2017.

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