BEIJING, Nov 2: China has called for an immediate ceasefire in northern Myanmar, where fighting between the military junta and ethnic armed groups has escalated in recent weeks.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the fighting was “a serious threat to the peace and stability of the region” and that it was “deeply concerned” about the situation.
“We urge all parties to exercise restraint, stop fighting immediately and return to dialogue and consultation to resolve their differences peacefully,” the ministry said in a statement.
China shares a long border with Myanmar, and the fighting in northern Myanmar has displaced thousands of people and caused widespread damage.
The Chinese government has been careful not to openly criticize the Myanmar military junta, but it has expressed concerns about the situation in the country.
Myanmar’s former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who had risen to power in 2015 with promises of national reconciliation, faced a significant setback as a pre-dawn attack by fighters from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) disrupted the peace process.
The attack targeted police, military, and government sites in Laukkai, the capital of the northeastern Kokang region, throwing the region into turmoil.
The MNDAA is a key member of the Northern Alliance, a coalition of rebel groups that includes one of Myanmar’s most powerful militias, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), along with two smaller groups.
This coalition has been engaged in a long-standing standoff with the Myanmar military since 2015, which was triggered by clashes in the same region.
The 2015 clashes resulted in a significant loss of life and forced tens of thousands of people to flee the area. Moreover, the conflict had spilled over into Chinese territory, leading to the tragic deaths of five Chinese citizens. This incident had deeply angered Beijing, straining diplomatic relations between Myanmar and China.
The recent attack in Laukkai has only added to the instability in the region and further complicated the efforts towards national reconciliation. Aung San Suu Kyi’s initial promises of peace and unity have faced numerous challenges since her time in power.
The situation highlights the complexity of the ongoing conflicts between ethnic minority groups and the central government in Myanmar, which continue to pose significant hurdles to lasting peace and stability in the country.
The Chinese call for a ceasefire is a significant development, as it is the first time that China has publicly called for an end to the fighting in northern Myanmar.
It remains to be seen whether the Myanmar military junta and the ethnic armed groups will heed China’s call for a ceasefire. However, the Chinese call for a ceasefire is a positive step, and it could help to reduce the violence in northern Myanmar.
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