The errant shells fired by the Burmese army were likely intended to strike troops belonging to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and their strongholds on the Kachin side of Burma's border with Yunnan province.

Witnesses reported the shells fell on the Chinese side of the border in the Man Bun area of Longchuan (N’Shawn) County located in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture. No one on the Chinese side of the border appeared to have been hurt by the shells.

According to a KIA official on the front line, the ordnance was fired by Burmese troops based in Sinlum. During the past week the Burmese army launched a fierce barrage of artillery in the area in an attempt to drive the KIA from nearby Hkai Bang Yang and Mu Bum Mountain on the borderline, KIA officials reported.

One day after the shells hit Chinese territory, witnesses at the border saw a group of Chinese military personnel visiting the impact sites.

This is at least the second time that Burmese shells have hit China since fighting between the KIA and the Burmese government broke out in June of this year.

KIA officials previously reported that, on July 9, four of six mortar rounds fired by Burmese troops towards the KIA's Padang Kawng post instead landed in Chinese territory. The shells were reportedly fired by Burmese forces based at the KIA's former general headquarters in Nahpaw and Pajau.

China was officially silent about the July incident. It remains unknown whether China raised its concerns in private.