Deng Xijun, China’s special envoy to Burma, recently met for talks with the Kachin Independence Army, the United Wa State Army and the National Democratic Alliance Army in Shan State.

U Ye Tun, a political analyst from Hsipaw, suspected that the meeting was about the new office of the National Unity Government (NUG) in the US. NUG Deputy Foreign Minister Moe Zaw Oo and Kyaw Moe Tun, Burma’s UN ambassador (appointed before the coup), were at the February 13 opening as was US State Department official Uzra Zeya.

“The Chinese are concerned that the US will provide weapons to Burma’s resistance groups, and I think that’s why their special envoy met with the leaders of the important ethnic armed organisations (EAOs).” Another reason, he said, could be related to the Burma Act, which allows the US to engage with NUG.

Ye Tun says that China remains cautious about US engagement in the Southeast Asian country.

“Burma is China’s neighbour. Both Burma and China have a common interest and the Chinese government wants an elected civilian government to rule Burma, but it does not want the US to interfere in the country.”

It is likely that Deng Xijun will next meet with the leaders of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Shan State Progress Party and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army.

As Sun Guoxiang’s successor, China’s new special envoy met EAO leaders on the Sino-Burma border and regime leader Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw last December. Prior to his recent appointment, Deng Xijun had been China’s ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since 2020.

SHAN made several efforts to reach the spokespersons of the EAOs who attended the meeting with the special envoy for comment.