Hundreds of Chinese reported trapped as rebels battle government in north Myanmar: report
A rebel military officer says clashes have broken out between ethnic-Kachin forces and government troops in the north of the country
PUBLISHED : Monday, 19 January, 2015, 3:23pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 20 January, 2015, 1:30am
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Kachin Independence Army troops photographed in 2013. Photo: Associated Press
Beijing says it is investigating reports that hundreds of Chinese citizens are caught in fighting between government troops and rebels in Myanmar's Kachin state - but it has confirmed that some of its nationals were arrested there this month on suspicion of illegal logging.
The Global Times, a state tabloid, reported yesterday that hundreds of Chinese citizens, including jade dealers, gold miners and lumberjacks, were among 2,000 civilians trapped, citing an unidentified intelligence official for a Myanmar rebel group.
Hong Lei , a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that China was investigating the report, but confirmed that Chinese citizens had been detained on suspicion of illegal logging. He did not say how many. Hong said Beijing had requested that the Myanmese government protect their safety and rights.
Some 146 people, including 126 Chinese, were arrested in raids on illegal logging operations that began on January 4 in Kachin, Xinhua reported, citing Myanmar's state media.
Hong said Chinese officials in Myanmar would visit the detained nationals and provide them with consular assistance.
A Chinese consular official said it had not been contacted by any Chinese national trapped by the fighting.
A farmer from the border town of Nabang in Yunnan said it was "not rare" for Chinese workers and businessmen to become trapped in the mountainous regions during clashes between the Kachin Independence Army and government forces.
"Usually they hide in mountains for safety when the situation worsens, and return when it improves," he said.
"They have their ways to get to Myanmar, and they will have their ways back home."
Fan Hongwei, professor at the Research School of Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University, said many Chinese had been working or doing business in Kachin in recent years in the timber, jade and mining industries.
Additional reporting by Reuters
