The worry for the British is that this incident may signal the return of a tactic used years ago by Irish Republican militants: pre-meditated attacks on British soldiers inside England.
The only flexibility China has so far shown in public on the issue is to signal its readiness to return to the basis of the last, proper round of talks way back in 1992.
The Karen Refugees Committee, a leading refugee organization, recently said the reforms in Myanmar "signal a ray of hope for many refugees to be able to return to their homeland, " but laid down 10 conditions for repatriation ranging from a solid nationwide cease-fire to clearing the vast mine fields along the border.