In a significant move, Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, embarked on his first visit to China since seizing power in a 2021 coup. The primary agenda of the visit was a meeting with Premier Li Qiang to discuss the escalating civil war raging within Myanmar.
During the meeting in the southwestern city of Kunming, Min Aung Hlaing asserted the junta’s readiness for peace negotiations if armed groups were willing to engage. “The door of peace is always open if they genuinely want peace,” a report by the GNLM quoted Min Aung Hlaing as saying. He went on to emphasize, “The armed insurgents should do what needs to be done instead of giving priority to their needs and wishes.”
The junta’s call for peace comes amid a major rebel offensive that has been escalating since last year. Rebel groups have seized a large swathe of territory, particularly near the border with China, posing a serious challenge to the junta’s control.
Since the military’s ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021, Myanmar has been embroiled in a relentless conflict between the military and various armed groups opposed to its rule.
China, a long-standing ally and major arms supplier to the junta, has been increasingly concerned about the chaos unfolding on its doorstep. The country has provided significant political backing to the junta, but the escalating violence has raised concerns about the safety of Chinese citizens and projects within Myanmar.
China’s state news agency Xinhua reported that Li had stressed the importance of ensuring the security of Chinese interests in Myanmar. However, Li did not explicitly endorse the junta’s approach to the civil war. Instead, he emphasized China’s support for Myanmar’s “advancing the political reconciliation and transformation.”
Analysts believe that China’s concerns stem from a fear of the junta’s potential downfall and suspicions about Western influence among some of the pro-democracy armed groups fighting against the military.
Myanmar’s strategic importance to China’s trillion-dollar Belt and Road initiative adds another layer of complexity to the situation. The country serves as a crucial link between China’s landlocked southwest and the Indian Ocean through railway and pipeline projects.
The junta’s willingness to engage in peace talks amidst the escalating conflict raises questions about its sincerity and the potential for a lasting resolution. China’s role as a key player in the region, with its vested interests in stability and economic connectivity, will undoubtedly shape the outcome of these negotiations.
