Shortly after State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi arrived back from her official visit to China, delegates of the Chinese government met separately with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army–Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS)—also called Mongla Army—near the China border.
SHAN has been unable reach the UWSA spokesperson for further information.
A Wa media group reported that Mr. Sun and three other delegates from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, joined by six government delegates from Yunnan Province, visited Wa Special 2 capital Pangkham, formerly known as Panghsang, yesterday to discuss the group’s willingness to join the Union Peace Conference (also known as the 21st Century Panglong Conference).
It’s rumoured that both the UWSA and the NDAA-ESS plan to attend the conference that kicks off next Wednesday in capital Naypyidaw.
During Suu Kyi’s visit to China, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to assist Burma in the peace process.
Eighteen of the country’s twenty-one armed groups are expected to attend the peace conference, according to media reports.
It’s still unknown if the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army—all of which have been excluded from joining because they fought with the Burma Army in the last two years—will be invited after the government recently pledged that the peace conference will be all-inclusive.
As a precondition for being part of peace talks, the Burma Army wants the three groups to issue a statement that they will end their arms struggle—a demand that hasn’t been given to any of the other groups, even those also fighting with the Burma Army.
During the state counselor’s visit, they discussed investment and trade; the old Silk Road project; agreed to build the Kunlong Bridge with China’s assistance; and a road connecting Kyaukphyu in eastern Burma to Kunming in China’s Yunnan Province.
The Kyaukphyu to Kunming Road will pass through Kokang area in northern Shan State.
Ensuring regional stability in the previously restive area is imperative for China in order to secure the land to sea route that will extend from Kunming to Kyaukphyu in Arakan State—the location of a deep-sea port that is currently in the works.
In a move that has been criticized as non-transparent, former Thein Sein government awarded the main tender for the deep-sea port to state-owned China International Trust and Investment Corporation just months before the new government took office.
Reporting by Sai Aung Saing for SHAN
Edited by BNI staff
