In what is an unusual move, Chinese border guards have been scrutinizing and fining cross-border Burmese travellers in the country's southwest Yunnan province contiguous to Burma since last week, said border sources.

Burmese border merchants and travellers are stopped at the official border checkpoints and any place on the Laiza-Yingjiang-Jang Hkong-Ruili route in Kachin Autonomous prefecture also known as Dehong Daizu Jinghpozu Autonomous prefecture. Then everyone’s urine samples are tested for possible drug intake, said travelers.

This road is used by many border traders.  Burmese people also travel between Burma's Kachin State and Shan State along the road, added border traders.

Persons testing positive in the blood examination at the Chinese checkpoints are fined Chinese Yuan 3,000 or two years imprisonment. The punishment is unusual, according to a Burmese traveler, stopped and checked early this week.

Usually, Chinese border guards’ stop only suspected Burmese drug addicts and urine examination is done but now all Burmese travellers are being subjected to tests, said border travellers.

Many Chinese citizens also travel along that road but Chinese border security forces only target Burmese citizens, added Burmese travellers.

Burmese travellers, who are not drug addicts, said some Burmese Christian preachers or regular travelers, who are not drug addicts, were tested drug positive at the Chinese border checkpoints and were punished by the Chinese border authorities.

"This is a clear indication that China is tightening cross-border Burmese citizens travelling to Chinese territories," a Kachin politician on the border said.

At the same time, China is preparing for a possible resumption of war on the border between the Burmese Army and border-based ethnic armed groups.

Currently, Burmese cross-border travellers are becoming increasingly worried and are feeling uncomfortable while travelling to Chinese territories because of the urine examination and fines.