No Chinese stranded in northern Myanmar conflicts

BEIJING - China on Tuesday said no Chinese nationals were "trapped" in the northern Myanmar conflicts but 155 had been detained for illegal logging.

"By far no Chinese have been found to be trapped in the conflicts according to initial information from Myanmar," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

The clashes between the rebel Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the government broke out in Myanmar's northern Kachin State earlier this month following the ambush by KIA on a convoy of Kachin state transport minister, the Global New Light of Myanmar reported.

Hua confirmed that 155 Chinese nations had been arrested by Myanmar authorities for illegal logging.

A Chinese consular working group arrived in Myitgyina, capital of Kachin state, on Monday to provide consular assistance to those detained on allegations of illegal logging.

The working group has contacted Myanmar's related departments and visited the detainees, Hua said.

"The detainees are in sound physical and mental condition and no one is sick or injured."

Myanmar was urged to take humanitarianism into consideration, take good care of the detainees and safeguard their legal rights and interests, Hua said.

In response, Myanmar improved the food given to the detainees and agreed to distribute provisions brought by the Chinese team, Hua said.

China respects Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity, supports its efforts to accomplish national peace and reconciliation, and expects the related parties to undertake peace talks and create a favorable environment for national development, Hua said.

China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace process and work with Myanmar to safeguard peace and stability along the border, Hua said.

The KIA took up arms in 1961 and is the second-largest of about 20 ethnic armed groups in Myanmar.

Tensions in Kachin state, where a 17-year ceasefire between KIA and the government splintered in 2011, have overshadowed efforts to stop the multiple civil wars in Myanmar's ethnic minority borderlands.