Сhina and Conflict in Myanmar`s Kachin State

Occupation: Lecturer, National Research University Higher School of Economics (St. Petersburg)
Affiliation: National Research University Higher School of Economics (St. Petersburg)
Address: Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 11

Pages

9-15

Abstract

In 2018 Northern Myanmar experienced another escalation of fighting between the armed forces of the central government and Kachin rebels. This conflict takes place in Kachin state, which lies just across the border from the PRC and hosts a number of China’s strategic investment projects. Traditionally the PRC insists on the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, but is it sticking to this policy in Myanmar? The aim of this article is to analyse the role of the PRC in this conflict and to identify factors that have shaped evolution of Beijing’s policy. Although, since the late 1980-s Beijing’s support for Kachin rebels has ceased almost entirely, during the 1990-s cross-border trade with the Chinese Yunnan province was one of the major sources of income for the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). Moreover, China’s growing presence and infrastructure projects in Kachin State became one of the reasons for the discontent of the local population with the Myanmar authorities, which manifested in the breaking of a 17-year cease-fire in 2011. Starting from 2012 Beijing’s role has changed from non-interference to so-called creative diplomacy, which includes greater involvement of the central government, resumption of contacts with the KIO, mediation and organizing of negotiations between Kachin insurgents and Myanmar’s central government. At the same time the Chinese government has not provided refugees from Kachin State with proper assistance and protection, they only received some humanitarian aid from local NGOs in Yunnan. Among the explanatory factors of the PRC’s policy regarding the Kachin conflict are the dynamics of Sino-Myanmar relations, China’s security concerns in the border area and wider region, as well as its strategic and economic interests.

Keywords

Myanmar, PRC, Kachin, foreign policy, ethnic conflict, civil war

Publication date

02.12.2019

Number of characters

25183

Cite

GOST	Soboleva H. Сhina and Conflict in Myanmar`s Kachin State // Asia and Africa Today – 2019. – Issue 11 C. 9-15 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750007016-9-1 (circulation date: 18.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750007016-9
MLA	Soboleva, Helena "Сhina and Conflict in Myanmar`s Kachin State." Asia and Africa Today 11 (2019):9-15. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750007016-9
APA	Soboleva H. (2019). Сhina and Conflict in Myanmar`s Kachin State. Asia and Africa Today (11), pp.9-15 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750007016-9

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