China calls for understanding of Myanmar's need to protect stability

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the audience during a news conference at Bolivar Palace in Panama City, Panama September 17, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Lemos

BEIJING (Reuters) - Violent incidents in Myanmar's Rakhine state are unacceptable and there should be understanding of the Myanmar government's efforts to protect social stability, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Indonesian counterpart, state media said.

More than 400,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled across the border to Bangladesh following a counter-insurgency offensive by Myanmar's army in the wake of militant attacks on security forces. U.N. officials have described Myanmar's strategy as "ethnic cleansing".