The Chinese embassy in Myanmar urged all Chinese nationals on Thursday to leave northern Myanmar, which borders China’s Yunnan Province and Tibet Autonomous Region. The embassy’s statement came as military operations between the ruling junta in Naypyidaw and rebel ethnic armed forces coalition known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance continues in northern Myanmar. 

Deputy Director of China’s Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mao Ning categorized the situation in northern Myanmar as “severe and complex.” She also called on Chinese citizens to cease traveling to the area and to “move to a safe zone or return home as soon as possible” while taking “safety precautions.”

Mao added that China’s position is that all parties should continue to maintain the ceasefire and further peace talks to ensure peace and tranquility in the border region. She added that China hopes that all parties will exercise maximum restraint and take concrete actions to protect the safety and security of Chinese projects and personnel in Myanmar.  

The border region is known for being dangerous, with an assortment of gambling, human trafficking and scam center operations in the region. An August report from the UN found that criminal syndicates in the region have forced hundreds of thousands of individuals into online criminal activity, including operating fraudulent investment schemes and facilitating unlawful gambling. Chinese officials have repeatedly requested that Myanmar do more in stopping this criminal activity and reduce lawlessness in the borderlands. Shutting down these operations are among the self-declared goals of the Three Brotherhood Alliance when they launched their operations. 

China’s statement comes following a mid-December announcement that China had mediated a short-term ceasefire to the conflict between the parties. The conflict has been ongoing since the Arakan Army (AA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) began operations on October 27.