The recent visit to Burma by, Xu Caihou, Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, showed China’s concern their ally might seek to establish ties with its arch-rival, the U.S., according to political analysts.
A group of Chinese military officials led by Xu and the leaders of the military-controlled Burmese government agreed to co-operation between the two countries’ militaries, according to the state-run media of the two countries.
During the three day-visit, from May 12 to 14, Xu met President Thein Sein, Commander-in-Chief of Burma’s Defense Service, Gen Min Aung Hlaing, and U Shwe Mann, Speaker of the Parliament of Representatives (Lower House) of Burma.
Bum Htoi, former official of the breakaway Communist Party of Burma (CPB) said, “The visit of the Chinese military chief is aimed at re-enhancing the two countries’ relationships and discouraging Burma from seeking ties with the U.S. and keeping China’s influence on Burma.”
China has invested over $600 billion in Burma’s energy and mining sectors.
China is constructing an oil pipeline between Burma’s western Rakhine State and the Chinese border trade city of Muse.
Bum Htoi told the Thailand-based Kachin News Group, China is creating instability in Burma despite declaring it will not intervene in the affairs of other countries.
He pointed to the construction of the new Chinese military base at Manghai, near the Burma border, which is about to be completed and said over 200,000 retired Chinese soldiers have been sent to Burma over the last five years.
Most of them were sent to Chinese-run companies like the Asia World Company, which is owned by Burmese drug lord, Lo Hsing Han, and is also financially supported by the Chinese government, Bum Htoi added.
He said China plans to create political instability in Burma by supplying arms to ethnic groups like the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the strongest ethnic armed group in Burma, and Chinese-led militia groups based along China-Burma border if it makes ties with the U.S., he said.
A Kachin political analyst said on condition of anonymity China wants to deal with the military backed Burmese government rather than ethnic armed groups which are demanding a genuine federal union and self-determination.
China thinks the repressive Burmese government will not threaten China’s security, whereas the ethnic armed groups will, he said.
The two analysts said China wants peace and stability in Burma through eliminating all opposition by armed ethnic groups and pro-democracy parties.
