A government delegation visited the UWSA at its headquarters in Pangkham (Pangsang) on November 11. According to representatives from the armed group, the negotiators urged a quick signing of the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) so that political discussions can get under way.

But the UWSA, with its own semi-autonomous fiefdom along the border with China, stands to gain little from renegotiating the lines of its power or territorial influence under the agreement. Instead, the group heads an oppositional bloc of ethnic armed groups currently engaged in fighting the Tatmadaw in northern Shan and Kachin states. The emergence of the UWSA-led Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) has been one of the biggest shifts of power in the ongoing peace process. The FPNCC members have turned away from the Tatmadaw-favored NCA process, and instead, say they want to redraft negotiations around a more balanced process that will grant greater autonomy to ethnic groups who have long felt resentment toward the Burmese-dominated central government.

For the UWSA and its political wing, the United Wa State Party, signing the NCA does not appear to be on the table.

“[They want us to] sign the NCA, but we have already released a statement concerning this issue. We responded that we will continue to follow the FPNCC’s principle [of forging a new path],” said Nyi Rang, the deputy officer from the UWSP/UWSA liaison office in Lashio.

The Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA), another leading member of the FPNCC, says it also will not capitulate to Nay Pyi Taw’s attempts to pressure groups into signing the pact amid growing frustrations with a lack of progress on the peace front.

“There aren’t any other paths for us,” said KIA information officer Lieutenant Colonel Naw Bu.

China’s Asia-Pacific regional representative recently urged the FPNCC to sign the NCA during a meeting. But the appeal fell on deaf ears, creating a significant stumbling bloc for the government.

“All seven members stand by the FPNCC’s decision,” said Brigadier General Tar Bone Kyaw, general secretary of the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA).

Following its overtures to the Wa and the Mongla group, the government announced only that its delegation, led by the Union Minister of Border Affairs, visited the territory to discuss regional stability, development and peace. No further details were released.

Last year, the Shan State Hluttaw designated the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA) as terrorist organizations. UWSA representatives said the labelling, which it described as unnecessarily complicating the issue, was discussed at the November 11 meeting with the government envoy.

“We are happy to hear that our ally made [the request for dropping the designation]. We are not a terrorist organization even though we have been branded as one by the huttaw,” said Brig-Gen Tar Bone Kyaw.

The UWSA also reiterated that it is only interested in entering into peace talks with the government if all groups from the seven-member bloc can participate.

The FPNCC is composed of the UWSA, the KIA, the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), the MNDAA, the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), the TNLA and the AA.