China lodges representations to Myanmar over injured Chinese citizen

BEIJING - China has lodged representations to Myanmar after a Chinese citizen was hit by a stray bullet when Myanmar government forces and local ethnic armed groups exchanged fire, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday.

Military conflicts broke out in the border area in northern Myanmar's Shan state early on Sunday morning with an alliance of three ethnic armed groups launching simultaneous and surprise attacks on government military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai townships as well as a border trade center there.

Geng Shuang, the spokesman, said China has taken measures to enhance border control in a bid to protect the safety and property of Chinese border residents.

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar issued a statement Sunday night reminding Chinese citizens in Myanmar to watch out for their own safety by avoiding conflict areas.

China will continue to follow the development of the situation and maintain communication with Myanmar, Geng said at a daily press briefing.

"We strongly hope the parties in the conflict will exercise restraint and immediately halt military operations to avoid escalation of the situation," he said.

He also called on them to take concrete measures to restore peace in the China-Myanmar border area and prevent harm to China's sovereignty as well as the lives and property of border residents.