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29 August 2024

Myanmar crisis to South China Sea tensions: Is PLA's Southern Theatre Command stretched?

Simantik Dowerah 

China’s People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command is facing an unprecedented strain as it prepares for a three-day live-fire drill on the Chinese side of the China-Myanmar border. This drill, set to commence on Tuesday, is a critical test of the command's capabilities as it grapples with the increasing instability in Myanmar, which poses a significant threat to China’s border security and strategic interests.

Escalating tensions and the need for vigilance

The Yunnan provincial government announced that the drill would take place in several key locations including Ruili city near the townships of Huyi and Wanting, Zhenkang county near Mengdui township and the autonomous county of Gengma Dai and Wa near Mengding town. These areas are close to the nearly 2,000-kilometre border that Yunnan shares with Myanmar making them particularly vulnerable to the spillover effects of the ongoing civil war in Myanmar.

According to South China Morning Post, the PLA Southern Theatre Command has emphasised that the primary purpose of these drills is to "test the theatre troop’s capabilities in rapid mobility, three-dimensional containment, and joint combat, to maintain the safety and stability of the border areas." This statement reflects the PLA's concerns about the growing violence in Myanmar and its potential to destabilise the border region.

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