Beijing will not allow its interests in Myanmar to be "stamped on", the state-run Global Times newspaper said Wednesday, as US secretary of state Hillary Clinton headed to the isolated nation.
China has long been the primary supporter of the Myanmar junta and the military-dominated civilian government that succeeded it.
But Myanmar has surprised observers with a series of reformist moves in the past year - including shutting down work on a controversial dam project backed by Beijing - leading to speculation it is trying to diversify its foreign policy.
"China has no resistance toward Myanmar seeking improved relationships with the West, but it will not accept this while seeing its interests stamped on," the Global Times daily said of Clinton's visit.