Source link : https://news7.asia/news/china-seeking-a-security-agreement-with-the-burmese-junta/
Burma’s Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, right, walking with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during a meeting at a hotel in Kunming, China, November 7, 2024. MILITARY INFORMATION TEAM BURMA/ AFP Worried about a defeat of the Burmese junta in the face of multiple guerrillas who are shaking the power of the military dictatorship, China recently proposed to the generals the creation of a joint security company to protect its interests in this country. An official Burmese media confirmed on December 4 that the junta had set up an interministerial committee to study the terms of the agreement with China – in particular the status of Chinese personnel, of which we do not know at this stage whether they will be civilian or military, and the question of carrying weapons. This decision would in any case be of significant importance: for the first time, members of the Chinese security forces, in uniform or not, would set foot on Burmese soil in conflict zones. Time is running out: the coastal area of Kyaukphyu, in the Bay of Bengal, from where a Chinese oil and gas pipeline leaves to China, has been surrounded for several weeks by the Arakan Army, the powerful autonomist armed group of the Rakhine State. Kyaukphyu certainly has an airport and is home to several Burmese army garrisons, but the noose is tightening. However, this city is to host a deep-water port and a special economic zone 70% owned by the large Chinese state investment group CITIC, offering the People’s Republic access to the Indian Ocean. This long-term project, paused due to the pandemic and then the coup d’état of February 2021, was reactivated by the junta in December 2023. Chinese workers arrived in May, but they were evacuated in November in due to growing local instability. Kyaukphyu has been identified as an area to be protected as a priority, possibly with the reinforcement of a private Chinese security company. Pressure on armed ethnic groups Since this summer, China has more actively supported the junta, whose leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, was invited to China for the first time for a tour at the beginning of November. He was received there by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Aid worth one billion yuan (130 million euros) was also granted to the Burmese military government according to the Myanmar Now website. Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers The head of the Burmese junta invited to China Read later At the same time, Beijing demands an end to the fighting on its borders. To do this, it is increasing the pressure on the armed ethnic groups in northern Shan State, who are fighting on the Chinese border: China did not expect that their repeated offensives against the regime, which began a year ago year, go so far – in this case, to the large city of Lashio, which fell in early August. You have 62.17% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
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Author : News7
Publish date : 2024-12-07 05:16:30
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