The intense fighting that broke out between Myanmar's government forces and the members of three armed groups on Sunday near the border with China has shown that the road to national reconciliation in Myanmar remains long and tortuous.

Beijing has wasted no time in calling on all parties to exercise restraint, and it has urged the conflicting parties to agree to end the fighting and restore stability.

In the meantime, the People's Liberation Army has been put on alert to protect the lives and property of Chinese citizens in the event the fighting escalates. On previous occasions, Chinese residents have been killed and injured when fighting has spilled over the border into China.