ANKARA

China on Sunday fired warning shots at a fighter jet of Myanmar army, which flew “too close” to former’s border, a news report claimed on Monday.

The jet was bombing rebels’ positions in Namkham town in northern Shan state, when it flew close to the Chinese border, reported The Irrawaddy, a news website run by Burmese exiles living in Thailand.

Namkham town has been held by the rebels affiliated with ethnic Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

“When the fighter headed to China to make a U-turn back to Namkham, China fired shots to prevent it from entering its airspace,” an unnamed resident was quoted as saying by The Irrawaddy.

“But the aircraft came back again some five minutes later (to search for targets), so China fired shots again. It happened again and again,” he added.

Beijing as well as the Burmese junta regime were yet to react to the report.

In August, China carried out a three-day live-fire military exercise near Nongdao amid heavy fighting between the junta and the rebel armed groups.

Early this month, an explosion targeted a Chinese Consulate-General in Mandalay in northern Myanmar, damaging a building.

Northern Myanmar has seen attacks against the junta regime by rebels increase in recent weeks with “Brotherhood Alliance” claiming control over major places.

On Oct. 27, 2023, the Brotherhood Alliance, which comprises the TNLA, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and the Arakan Army, launched a large-scale offensive in the region, seizing over 20 towns in northern Shan State, including the state capital Lashio over the past year.

Beijing had mediated a cease-fire between the junta and rebels which broke down several times.

Amid escalating attacks on its installation, the junta surprisingly invited rebels as well as the national unity government in exile to join national elections expected to be announced this month.