A 15-member Chinese delegation crossed the border and was received by Wa officials in Panghsang, the capital of Wa State  yesterday, according to sources close to the United Wa State Army (UWSA), as tension continued to escalate between the group and the Burmese military junta.

The delegation was made up of representatives from various government agencies: the military, police, border security, cross border trade and agriculture, among others. Identities of participants were not disclosed, apart from the sources saying that most of the top Wa leaders are now in Hsaopha to attend the funeral of the Wa State founder Chao Ngi-lai, who died on September 8.

Yesterday’s meeting, where host officials were questioned about the current stormy relations with Naypyitaw lasted from 09 to 11. “It ended with a concluding speech by a visiting official that China would be happy to see Burma resolve its problems in a peaceful manner,” said a source.

The speech echoed what Jiang Yu, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman said yesterday, according to Xinhua, in response to a question whether or not China had provided information that had led to the Burmese Army’s recent crackdown on the Wa’s northern ally the Kokang: “China never interferes in Myanmar’s internal affairs and would like to see Myanmar resolve its issues though peaceful consultations.”

The Wa territory on the Sino-Burma border is now besieged by the Burmese Army in the north and southwest. The Salween forms a natural barrier in the west and China a political barrier in the east. Only a small corridor exists between it and its southeastern ally, the Mongla-based National Democracy Alliance Army (NDAA).