Live-fire drills to start near border with Myanmar

This photo released by the official WeChat account of PLA Daily shows an infantry fighting vehicle being deployed to take part in a live-ammunition drill which will start Tuesday in a border area of Yunnan province near Myanmar.

People's Liberation Army forces will start a live-ammunition drill on Tuesday in a border area of Yunnan province near Myanmar.

An analyst said the exercise indicates Beijing's determination to safeguard border security and the well-being of citizens.

It comes after two bombings caused by Myanmar in March and May that resulted in Chinese casualties in Yunnan near the border and triggered protests by Beijing and calls for investigations.

Zhao Picong, spokesman for the PLA Chengdu Military Area Command, said on Monday that the drill, which will involve troops from the PLA army and air force, has been scheduled in accordance with training plans.

"No aircraft will be allowed to enter the airspace for the drill without permission", and vehicles entering border areas in Gengma and Zhenkang counties will be subject to traffic controls, the PLA said.

The drill will not affect the public's work, and daily lives and local people will not be allowed to enter the drill areas without permits, according to a PLA statement.

Completion of the drill will be announced later, the release said.