Myanmar official accuses China of meddling in rebel peace talks

Min Zaw Oo poses for a photograph in the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon October 7, 2015. REUTERS/Htoo Tay Zar

YANGON (Reuters) - A top negotiator in Myanmar's peace talks with ethnic rebels has accused neighbouring China of derailing a nationwide ceasefire deal last week that would have brought Japan and Western nations in as observers to monitor an end to decades of conflict.

Beijing has denied the accusation but the rare public criticism exposes growing tensions between China and the Southeast Asian nation, which has sought to reduce its dependence on Beijing and build relations across the globe since a reformist government took power in 2011.