As clashes menace Chinese investment projects in Rakhine State, China sends senior diplomat to Myanmar capital

Beijing dispatched a high-ranking envoy to Naypyitaw this week as the Arakan Army (AA) intensified its offensive operations in southern Rakhine State, a site of several high-value infrastructure projects backed by Chinese investment. Deng Xijun, the Chinese foreign affairs ministry’s special envoy for Asian affairs, met with the junta’s foreign affairs minister Than Swe on Tuesday in Myanmar’s capital, where the military junta has maintained control since seizing power in 2021. The AA, having already seized more than half of Rakhine State’s townships, has concentrated its efforts on capturing economically important areas in southern Rakhine State such as Kyaukphyu Township, the starting point of an oil and gas pipeline and site of a deep sea port project heavily backed by Chinese investors. The AA (which rebranded as the “Arakha Army” two months ago) is Rakhine State’s most powerful ethnic armed organisation. The group has said it is fighting for greater autonomy for the people of Rakhine State and intends to take full control of the state from the military regime. The Chinese special envoy’s arrival in Naypyitaw came just a few days after eight diplomats based at China’s embassy in Yangon visited the sites of oil and gas pipeline projects on Maday Island in Kyaukphyu Township between June 8 and 11. Junta-run outlets reported on Tuesday that the special envoy and junta foreign minister discussed how to achieve stability on the borders between the countries, enhance relations, and work more closely with ASEAN on the international stage. At a press conference held on June 8, AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha said that despite China's mediation in ongoing negotiations for a new ceasefire in Rakhine State, an agreement to bring a halt to the fighting remains out of reach. The AA launched a large-scale coordinated offensive against the Myanmar military in Rakhine State and southern Chin State last November, breaking a previous ceasefire that had been in effect for almost a year. Since then, the ethnic armed group has captured Paletwa Township in Chin State as well as Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Ramree, and Buthidaung townships in Rakhine State. Map of Rakhine State showing sites of economic interest for foreign stakeholders and townships controlled by the Arakan (Arakha) Army and Myanmar military.

As clashes menace Chinese investment projects in Rakhine State, China sends senior diplomat to Myanmar capital

Beijing’s special envoy for Asian affairs met with the Myanmar junta’s foreign minister soon after an embassy delegation inspected Chinese-backed infrastructure project sites near Kyaukphyu

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