After securing a truce in northern Shan State, China is pressing ahead with its Belt and Road projects in Myanmar, focusing on boosting security along the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC).
Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia discussed strengthening safety for Chinese personnel during her visit to Mandalay, the heart of the CMEC, on February 26-28.
The Chinese envoy met with junta-appointed Mandalay Region Chief Minister Myo Aung and held discussions with executives from the China-backed Alpha Cement factory and the Sino-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline headquarters, the Chinese Embassy reported Monday.
The Alpha Cement plant – located in Madaya Township, 32 kilometers northeast of Mandalay city – was captured by the Mandalay People’s Defense Force and their allies in July last year.
The China-Myanmar pipelines transport oil and gas from Rakhine State in western Myanmar through the Mandalay and Magwe heartlands to Shan State, then across the border to Yunnan in western China. The major shareholder of the pipelines is China National Petroleum Corporation.
The junta has been unable to secure the 800km pipeline corridor, which came under fire amid intense clashes in Mandalay during phase two of the anti-regime Operation 1027. Junta troops even torched a building at the Alpha Cement plant as they retreated.
Resistance groups also seized control of the China-backed Tagaung nickel processing plant in Sagaing Region’s Tigyaing Township in July last year.
The following month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi flew to Naypyitaw and told junta generals to protect the safety of Chinese projects and personnel in Myanmar.
Simultaneously, China began pressuring ethnic armies on its border in Shan State to halt their offensive against the regime, culminating in a ceasefire in January.
Late last month, the regime enacted the Private Security Services Law to allow Chinese security companies to deploy personnel to protect China-related organizations, offices, houses, businesses, projects and transportation in Myanmar.
The renewed Belt and Road push extends to the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and deep-sea port project in Rakhine State, which lies at the western end of the economic corridor.
Junta ministers and executives of China’s state-owned CITIC conglomerate recently held talks to kickstart the stalled Kyaukphyu project, which remains under junta control but is surrounded by the Arakan Army.
Earlier this month, Ma also met with Shan State chief minister Aung Aung in Taunggyi to discuss cross-border cooperation. Taunggyi is the site of a BRI highway project to link Myanmar and China.
The Chinese Embassy’s social media report on Ma’s visit to Mandalay attracted heavy criticism from Myanmar netizens. One comment read: “No one can guarantee your interests as long as you shield the individuals Myanmar people hate.”
During his first post-coup visit to China in November last year, Min Aung Hlaing pledged to begin work on a railroad linking Kyaukphyu with Shan State’s Muse, near the Chinese border, “where security allows.”
Observers say the recent BRI push suggests that, after China’s intervention in northern Shan State, the regime has granted Beijing free rein to safeguard and promote its interests in Myanmar.
