Tens of thousands of refugees fleeing army operations against ethnic minority groups in Myanmar have crossed over into southwestern China over the past year, some bringing weapons with them that Chinese authorities are requesting they hand over, reported the official daily Global Times Friday.
Local authorities of Lincang city, in southern Yunnan province which borders northern Myanmar, made the appeal through an online notice condemning “a flood of firearms” that have arrived in China.
“Burmese border residents without a crime record who surrender their firearms will be rewarded,” added the notice, promising 500 yuan ($72) for each rifle surrendered, 200 yuan for each pistol or hand grenade, and two yuan for each bullet.
During the last few years, the conflict has affected neighbouring China, with incidents including the deaths of several people from explosives and projectiles launched from Myanmar that fell on Chinese soil.
This week, the state-owned Agricultural Bank of China suspended an account purportedly linked to a Myanmar insurgency group, said sources from Naypyidaw, who thanked Beijing for the step.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
