Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing met with China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun in Naypyidaw on Thursday to discuss Myanmar’s conflict since the 2021 military coup.
“At the meeting, both sides cordially talked about friendly ties and diplomatic relations between Myanmar and China, internal peace processes in Myanmar, peace and stability measures in the border region, bilateral relations to eradicate online gambling and online scams,” regime media reported.
Min Aung Hlaing and Deng Xijun also discussed the regime’s plan to hold an election. In attendance was Ye Win Oo, the regime joint secretary, and Than Swe, the regime deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister.
This meeting comes after the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) seized control of the military’s Northeastern Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Lashio, located in northern Shan State, on Aug. 3. Thirteen other RMC remain under military control.
The Northeastern RMC gives the MNDAA effective control over all of Lashio, which connects the country’s second largest city, Mandalay, to the border of China.
The MNDAA is a member of the Brotherhood Alliance, a grouping of ethnic armed groups fighting against the military in northern Shan and Arakan (Rakhine) states. It includes the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA).
The Brotherhood Alliance re-launched its offensive, known as Operation 1027 due to the date it began on Oct. 27, in northern Shan State after a China-brokered ceasefire with the military signed on Jan. 11 broke down on June 25.
Min Aung Hlaing accused the Brotherhood Alliance and other armed groups, fighting the military after the coup, of receiving advanced military weapons including drones from foreign countries during a speech on Monday.
He did not name any countries specifically but claimed that ethnic armed groups are operating weapons factories with equipment obtained from abroad along the Myanmar-China border, and smuggling weapons into the country via the Myanmar-Thailand border.
The Brotherhood Alliance maintains close ties with Beijing. The International Crisis Group (ICG), an organization that monitors global armed conflict, released a report in March stating that China gave its tacit approval for Operation 1027.
“China didn’t see the January ceasefire as any kind of permanent solution, but I think it hoped the deal could help solidify a new status quo along the border, along with a resumption of trade. Instead, bombs are now falling on Laukkai, right on China’s doorstep. In addition to a new ceasefire, China continues to press for early elections,” said Richard Horsey, the ICG senior Myanmar advisor.
China’s embassy in Myanmar posted to social media on Tuesday that its nationals residing in Lashio, and other areas of northern Shan State, must take precautions and avoid areas where fighting is on-going near the China border.
“We have called on relevant parties in Myanmar to uphold dialogue and consultation, end the hostilities as soon as possible, settle disputes in a peaceful manner, avoid escalation of the situation, and in particular, make sure no harm is done to the security of Chinese borders and the safety of people living in the border area as well as Chinese projects, businesses and personnel in Myanmar,” said China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning during a press conference in Beijing on July 25.
