China talks tough to Myanmar as death toll rises

BEIJING/BANGKOK -- The Chinese government, foreign ministry and military have taken strong action after at least five people were killed in China's Yunnan Province by a stray bomb dropped by a Myanmar jet, Premier Li Keqiang said Sunday.
     Li stressed that Beijing was taking a tough stance against Myanmar, when asked about the incident at a news conference following China's annual parliamentary session. He also expressed condolences to the victims and their families.
     "Due to time constraints, I will make my answer simple," he said. "We have the responsibility and ability to firmly safeguard stability in the border areas between the two countries."
     The death toll from the air raid has risen to five, the Kunming city government said Saturday night. Wang Wei, deputy head of the Yunnan Province foreign affairs office, implored the Myanmar consul general in Kunming for an apology and compensation to the victims and their families.
     Fan Chonglong, deputy director of China's Central Military Commission, spoke with the Myanmar military's commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, by phone Sunday, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency said. Fan warned that Chinese forces will act to protect citizens' lives and property should another similar incident happen.
     "The Chinese people are reacting very strongly," Fan said, demanding that Myanmar's forces quickly stabilize the border region, where Myanmar is fighting Kokang rebels. Min Aung Hlaing reportedly pledged to jointly investigate the incident with China and to hold those responsible accountable.
     China deployed fighter jets Saturday to its border with Myanmar to deter the neighboring country's planes from approaching Chinese airspace. Beijing is concerned that the armed clashes in Myanmar could spill into border regions in Yunnan Province.
     Yet China is keen to contain anti-China sentiments in Myanmar for economic reasons. Senior Chinese diplomat Kong Xuanyou has denied allegations that his country was supporting Kokang insurgents in Myanmar, according to a Xinhua report.
     He stressed that China is committed to noninterference in other countries' domestic affairs and that no organization or individual based in China would be permitted to undermine the stability of Myanmar's border regions