Chinese military urges ceasefire in Myanmar’s civil conflict as rebel group claims border trading point

The Chinese military has called for a stop to the fighting in Myanmar as the conflict grows. An armed ethnic group has reportedly taken over a border trade area. The PLA Daily, a newspaper for China's military, published an article on Sunday saying that it's very important to keep the border with Myanmar safe and peaceful. China is watching the situation closely and wants the fighting to stop and for peaceful talks to begin. On Saturday, the Chinese military began live-fire exercises in Yunnan province, which is next to Myanmar. These exercises, the first since 2017, are seen as a sign that China wants to lower the tension and protect its people and property near the border. A spokesperson for Myanmar's government confirmed that China had informed them about the drills, which are meant to help maintain stability. Myanmar's government is facing strong opposition from rebel groups in the north. One group, the MNDAA, claimed they now control a key trading spot in Muse. A video on social media showed their flag at the border trade zone. State media in Myanmar said that the military's enemies used drones to attack vehicles, destroying 120 of them. There have been injuries and damage on the Chinese side of the border since the conflict began. China has a good relationship with Myanmar's government but does not officially recognize it. They have said they won't interfere in Myanmar's internal issues. A Chinese official visited Myanmar and asked for better protection for Chinese interests.