China builds border posts: report

By Wang Zhaokun

Chinese analysts Wednesday rejected media reports that Beijing is building military barracks along its border with Myanmar as "groundless" and aiming to undermine relations between the two countries.

However, the report raised concerns in Indian media, as the country has sought to build closer ties with Myanmar despite pressure from the US.

Citing sources among former soldiers of the Communist Party of Burma in Mongkoe, Burma News International (BNI) said Monday that China is "in a day and night operation" building military barracks for the People's Liberation Army in a border town in Yunnan Prov-ince, opposite Mongkoe town in Myanmar's Shan State.

Slg. Bum Htoi, a military analyst based in Mongkoe, told the Thailand-based Kachin News Group that China is stationing soldiers in the area to monitor troops from other countries, especially the US, should they enter Myanmar. Bum Htoi added that the troops will protect Chinese nationals in Myanmar should a conflict break out.

Zhuang Guotu, director of the Center for Southeast Asia Studies at Xiamen University, told the Global Times that the BNI report was "groundless" since neither China nor Myanmar has stationed large forces in their border areas.

"The two sides always successfully maintain peace and stability in the region so the building of military barracks is unnecessary," Zhuang said. "Even if there were foreign troops entering Myanmar, China's military would not use such low-level tactics to monitor them."

The Times of India Wednesday said that the report shows that Beijing is aiming to place forces in areas near India.

"It's irresponsible and senseless for Indian media to cause such a stir over a report." said Zhao Gancheng, director of South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institute for Interna-tional Studies. "China is consistent in its stance of safeguarding peace and tranquility along its border with India."

"India is very sensitive about the traditionally solid relations between China and Myanmar," Zhao added. "New Delhi has realized that it has to break away from its old policies and be more independent when dealing with Myanmar so that it can gain bigger influence in the region."

The Times of India reported Monday that defying pressure from the US to tighten screws on Myanmar, India has gone ahead and started to work on the crucial Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project with its neighbor.

US President Barack Obama came down hard on India during his November visit for not speaking out against Myanmar's military government.