CHINA has the responsibility and ability to defend its border with Myanmar, Premier Li Keqiang told a news conference at the end of China’s annual session of parliament in Beijing yesterday.

    His remarks came two days after China lodged representations to Myanmar on a deadly bombing in a Chinese city bordering the conflict-hit country.

    A bomb dropped by a Myanmar warplane Friday killed four Chinese people and injured nine others in Lincang of Yunnan Province.

    “We have the responsibility and the ability to firmly defend the stability of the China-Myanmar border, and firmly protect the lives and the security of the property of our people,” Li said.

    The bombing came days after China warned of escalating violence near the border following a surge in ethnic conflict in the remote Kokang region in Myanmar’s northeastern Shan state.

    Li expressed “condolences and deep sympathies to the victims and their families” at his once-a-year meeting with journalists.

    “At the same time, our government, the ministry of foreign affairs and the military have made solemn representations to the Myanmar side,” he said.

    China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force on Friday sent several fighter jets to “track, monitor, warn and chase away” Myanmar military planes flying close to the border, air force spokesman Shen Jinke was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying.

    It cited Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, as telling the commander of Myanmar’s military that China will take “firm and decisive action” in the event of any repetition.

    Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin summoned the Myanmar Ambassador to Beijing, Thit Linn Ohn, on Friday night to protest against the deaths, the agency said.

    Last month, Myanmar declared a state of emergency in Kokang in response to the conflict, which began Feb. 9.

    The unrest has virtually emptied the main Kokang town of Laukkai, the epicenter of the fighting, with streets in the once-bustling frontier community transformed into a battleground.

    More than 30,000 people have fled from Myanmar into Yunnan, according to Xinhua.

    China and Myanmar share a border line of over 2,000 km.

    Also yesterday, Myanmar government’s Peace-Making Work Committee and the Kachin Independence Organization met for the first time to discuss on a nationwide ceasefire, according to the Myanmar Peace Center.

    (SD-Xinhua)

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