Local traders say that authorities in Muse, northern Shan State, permit only 50 vehicles and 200 motorcycles to cross the China-Myanmar border per day at the Sinphyu trade gate to conduct business and trading in China.
The junta announced they would only permit vehicles and motorcycles which win lucky draws to enter China through the border gate.
A trader said motorcycles and vehicles which want to enter China must apply at the Muse City Chamber of Commerce on 28-29 November by producing their trading license and other required documents and they would be issued a temporary entry/exit pass.
Among thousands of applicants, only 50 vehicles and 200 motorcycles will be issued these temporary passes after their number is chosen in a lucky draw.
The number of vehicles crossing at the Muse-Jia Gao border gate is usually over one thousand. Traders said that many small traders and migrant workers on the border will be unemployed under this new restriction.
Junta authorities do not allow bicycles, push carts or passenger vehicles to transport goods at this border gate. To transport goods by bicycle, only two packages are allowed per bicycle – one in front and another on the back. The goods in the packages mush be permitted by the authorities.
Vehicles and motorcycles can carry only a limited amount of goods. The authorities permit only kitchen-use vegetables and fruits, fish, and meat but they ban carrying of frozen meat, consumer goods and other restricted goods. The Sinphyu gate inspection team has announced that those found carrying these banned goods will have actions taken against them.
Medicines are currently in short supply in Muse city. A local resident said that the prices of over-the-counter common medicines for home use had risen more than three-fold.
The price of Shan rice is 180,000 Kyats per bag (24 pyi or 108 lbs) and the price of premium quality rice is over 300,000 Kyats per bag in Muse at present. The price of fuel oil is around 10,000 Kyats per litre.
China closed all border trade posts on its side of the border since the end of October 2023 when the Three Brotherhood Alliance launched Operation 1027. Commodity prices and prices for basic foodstuffs have been rising in Muse since then.
