N Myanmar unrest detrimental to Chinese interests

BEIJING - Proximity and ethnicity have bred misleading speculations about Chinese involvement in the ongoing conflict in northern Myanmar close to the bilateral border.

Such allegations and accusations cannot hold water, as it would both violate China's basic foreign policy principle and harm China's national interests should Beijing thrust itself into the Kokang fighting.

First of all, China upholds non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, let alone military intervention. China has always respected Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Even if there were indeed some Chinese nationals participating in the fighting, it would be only an individual act, to which the Chinese government is strongly opposed.

As Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying has said, Beijing will never allow any organization or individual to use Chinese territory to undermine China-Myanmar relations or border tranquility.

Meanwhile, it would be unreasonable for China to fan the flames of violence in such a close neighbor, which could eventually spread onto its own soil.

A large number of Myanmar refugees have already fled to China's southwestern Yunnan province. Were the violence to persist, the influx would only continue and pose a graver challenge to the security and stability of the border region.

Thus, any escalation of the conflict in northern Myanmar could spell nothing but trouble for China, which shares a profound traditional friendship with Myanmar and is committed to foster a peaceful and prosperous neighborhood.

China indeed have huge stakes on its relations with Myanmar, and it is nothing but a peaceful and stable Myanmar that best suits China's interests.

Hence Beijing's call for an early solution to the Kokang conflict and pledge to continue to play a constructive role in promoting the peace process in Myanmar.

It is also worth mentioning that China's provision of food and medical services for Myanmar refugees is purely an act of the humanitarian spirit the country has displayed in many other parts of the world. It should not be misinterpreted as a form of support for any side in the conflict.

Regarding neighborhood stability as a foreign policy priority, China is committed to sharing growth opportunities and achieving common development with its neighbors, including Myanmar.

Among the least developed nations in Southeast Asia, Myanmar has witnessed leapfrog economic development and social progress in recent years, largely thanks to a helping hand from China.

During Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Myanmar in November, the two countries agreed to significantly deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in a wide range of areas, such as inter-connectivity building and poverty alleviation.

In addition, China's decades-long efforts to promote win-win cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Greater Mekong River Subregion, both of which include Myanmar, have brought enormous development opportunities for the region as a whole.

And that is the true involvement China has with Myanmar.