Chinese Troops Gather on Myanmar’s Border to ‘Protect Pipelines’ Chinese Troops Gather on Myanmar’s Border to ‘Protect Pipelines’ The towns of Muse, Myanmar (foreground) and Ruili, China (background), as seen from Muse in Shan State. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy 989 By The Irrawaddy 1 April 2021 Several sources on the Chinese border reported that troops were gathering in Jiegao, opposite the Shan State border town of Muse. Many Chinese soldiers and military trucks have arrived at the border in previous days. Sources from ethnic armed groups said China was sending a warning signal to Myanmar. TVBS News in Taiwan reported that Chinese troops are there to protect the natural gas pipeline without suggesting how.