October 8, 2024
YANGON – A leaked meeting record has surfaced, revealing that a secret meeting was held between China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs, Deng Xijun, and leaders of the United Wa State Party (UWSP) in Yunnan Province, China, where discussions included controlling the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).
It has been confirmed by sources close to the Wa group that on August 27, Deng Xijun and the leaders of the United Wa State Party/Army (UWSP/UWSA) held discussions in Yunnan Province. A source close to the Wa group confirmed this to the BBC.
Myanmar Now first reported this news on October 5, followed by other exile and international media outlets.
The meeting between China and the Wa group took place after the MNDAA seized control of Lashio, with Wa leaders U Kyauk Kaw An, Head of External Relations, and U Pauk Aik Khan, Deputy General Secretary of the UWSP, attending.
The leaked meeting record indicates that the Chinese government is imposing blockades on the MNDAA and Kokang region, including cutting off electricity, water, the internet, and supplies such as fuel, medicine, and foodstuffs. The Chinese government has also restricted the movement of people in and out of the area and tightened controls at border crossings with Kokang.
However, due to ongoing trade and movement of people and goods between Kokang and the Wa-controlled areas as well as NDAA’s Mongla area, it is noted that China’s blockade on the MNDAA has been largely ineffective.
Additionally, the meeting record reveals that China has pressured the Wa group not to sell arms and ammunition to other ethnic armed groups, including the MNDAA and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
Furthermore, the MNDAA’s seizure of Lashio, a city controlled by the Myanmar military, beyond the borders of Kokang’s Special Region (1), has significantly impacted China-Myanmar relations. It has disrupted cross-border trade and China-Myanmar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. The Special Envoy for Asian Affairs also warned the Wa leaders that this situation opens opportunities for the U.S. and Western powers to further intervene in Myanmar’s affairs.
Additionally, during the meeting with the Wa leaders, the Special Envoy for Asian Affairs expressed that China could not recognize MNDAA’s capture of Lashio. The MNDAA has been leading the frontline in collaboration with groups opposing the Myanmar military, such as the National Unity Government (NUG) and (People’s Defence Force (PDF), which are backed by the U.S. and Western powers. It was also revealed that the MNDAA has falsely claimed to be cooperating with the Chinese government while promoting the “Han Chinese Liberation” ideology. The group has been secretly collaborating with PDFs to plan an attack on Mandalay. Furthermore, under the pretext of cooperating with the Chinese government to suppress online financial fraud gangs, the MNDAA launched “Operation 1027,” which resulted not only in the takeover of the entire Kokang region but also the capture of Lashio. These four key points represent the stance of the Chinese government, according to the meeting record.
Moreover, the Special Envoy urged the Wa group not to sell weapons to the MNDAA, to prohibit any vehicles traveling from the Wa region to Kokang from carrying weapons, military supplies, fuel, medicine, or food, and to thoroughly inspect all individuals entering or exiting Kokang to prevent military or technical experts from infiltrating through the Wa region. He also emphasized that no arms should be sold to PDFs or armed groups from Karenni and the southern regions.
If the Wa group continues to support the MNDAA despite these directives, the Chinese government would suspend all economic and livelihood-related support to the Wa region, halt all trade with Wa, and cease cooperation on mining, industrial development, and hydroelectric power projects. This was conveyed by the Special Envoy during his meeting with the Wa leaders, as recorded in the meeting document.
The meeting record also noted that the Chinese government would impose sanctions on the TNLA group.
Additionally, China is particularly concerned about the ties between Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups, including the MNDAA, TNLA, and the Wa group, and the U.S., and has conducted investigations into these alleged connections, according to the meeting record.
Regarding the leaked meeting record, Eleven Media Group contacted U Nyi Ran, the head of the Lashio Foreign Relations Office, but as of the afternoon of September 6, no response had been received.
On August 3, after the MNDAA captured Lashio, China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs, Deng Xijun, visited Nay Pyi Taw on August 8 and again on August 14, accompanying Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for discussions with the Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
During the meeting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed China’s strong support for Myanmar’s independence and sovereignty. He expressed China’s support for the SAC’s efforts to maintain national stability and advance development through its five-point roadmap. Additionally, China supports the SAC’s preparation for free and fair multi-party democratic general elections. Wang Yi emphasized China’s commitment to working closely with Myanmar to ensure stability and reiterated China’s opposition to attacks by Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) on villages in northern Shan State.
On August 16, during a meeting of foreign ministers from China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated three key principles concerning Myanmar. These were: preventing internal instability and civil war within Myanmar, avoiding Myanmar’s estrangement from the ASEAN framework, and rejecting interference by external powers in Myanmar’s internal affairs.
On August 29, the Chinese National Security Committee sent a letter to TNLA from Ruili, China.
In the letter, China requested that TNLA ensure the security of the Chinese border region, local civilians, and Chinese nationals and businesses inside Myanmar. China emphasized that TNLA must eliminate military actions that threaten the stability of the border area and the safety of Chinese citizens and property. Failure to do so would result in China taking more severe measures against TNLA, including punitive actions, and TNLA would bear full responsibility for any consequences.
The letter also expressed hope that TNLA would clearly understand the situation, work with China to promote peace, and return to the correct path to resolve disagreements through negotiation as soon as possible. On this basis, China promised to continue playing a positive role in supporting the peace process in northern Myanmar. Furthermore, China stated that it would help TNLA secure legitimate rights and economic benefits, as well as assist in implementing healthy development projects.
Subsequently, on September 2, the SAC’s Central Committee for Counter-Terrorism declared MNDAA, AA, and TNLA as terrorist groups.
After this declaration, on September 18, MNDAA’s Military Committee issued a statement clarifying that it would not engage in any military or political cooperation with the NUG, expand its battlefield operations, or launch attacks on Mandalay and Taunggyi.
In the statement, MNDAA reaffirmed its political stance of seeking genuine autonomy and clarified that it would never pursue secession, attempt to overthrow the state, or declare independence to establish a new state.
Additionally, the statement mentioned that it is MNDAA’s political redline not to cooperate, associate, or form alliances with any foreign groups that oppose either China or Myanmar.
The MNDAA also reiterated that it would not engage in any military or political cooperation with the NUG, expand its battlefield operations, or launch attacks on Mandalay and Taunggyi. However, it emphasized that it would continue to uphold its right to self-defense.
In the statement, MNDAA expressed a special request for China to intervene and mediate in resolving the increasingly deteriorating situation in Myanmar. MNDAA also stated that it would immediately cease hostilities and actively cooperate with China to seek a political solution to the conflicts through dialogue.
Moreover, on September 26, the SAC’s Information Team issued a statement inviting ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and PDFs to abandon the armed path and resolve political issues through peaceful political means.