China is pushing ahead with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure projects in Myanmar, despite the ongoing conflicts.
Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping and junta chief Min Aung Hlaing marked 75 years of diplomatic ties and called for BRI progress in Myanmar to accelerate.
Chinese ambassador Ma Jia has since visited Naypyitaw to secure swift progress on the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), which is part of the BRI.
The CMEC envisages a package of infrastructure, trade and energy projects linking China with Rakhine State’s Indian Ocean coast.
On June 9, Ma met junta energy minister, Ko Ko Lwin, to discuss BRI energy projects, covering power generation, oil and natural gas.
On Tuesday, Ma met construction minister Myo Thant reportedly to discuss infrastructure projects between the Chinese border and Rakhine coast.
The BRI, which involves around 70 countries, aims to enhance trade and investment by developing road, rail and maritime routes from China through Asia to Africa and Europe.
Key projects include the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port in Rakhine State and a planned railway linking Rakhine to Yunnan Province following the route of existing oil and gas pipelines.
The train would connect the border town of Muse in northern Shan State with Mandalay and Kyaukphyu, linking landlocked western China to the Indian Ocean.
But the junta has lost control of much of northern Shan State, Mandalay Region and Rakhine State.
Beijing has this year applied pressure on the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in northern Shan State, pushing them to hold peace talks with the regime and hand back seized territory.
Under Beijing’s influence, the MNDAA pulled back from Lashio in April, while the TNLA faces relentless airstrikes from the junta, which are believed to have China’s backing.
China’s special envoy to Myanmar Deng Xijun attended a so-called peace forum hosted by the regime on Wednesday in Naypyitaw.
