Myanmar peace talks to be held in China

The Kachin Independent Army (KIA) and Myanmar’s government will hold talks in China on Monday in an attempt to resolve a long-standing conflict that has escalated since December, Reuters reported. The KIA said in a statement Saturday that the Chinese government will mediate between the two sides. The talks will take place in Ruili, the Chinese border town, which has hosted three meetings since a 17-year ceasefire fell apart in June 2011. The two sides have conducted at least eight talks, but each time they have failed to reach a permanent agreement. The talks come amid a conflict that has created tens of thousands of refugees and seen an unprecedented use of helicopter gunships and fighter planes.