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China's Myanmar Strategy: Elections, Ethnic Politics and Economics International Crisis Group Asia Briefing No. 112 - 21 September 2010 This briefing is based on interviews conducted on both sides of the China-Myanmar border, including Yunnan province, Kachin State and Shan State, as well as in Beijing, Kunming, Yangon, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, New York and Washington DC. Crisis Group spoke to a wide range of individuals, including: Chinese experts and officials, ethnic group representatives, members of Burmese civil society, and local and international NGOs. The full 20-page report in pdf format is at this link. Border Guard Forces (BGFs): Current Status of Negotiations Mizzima - 3 May 2010
As part of its coverage of the 2010 Elections in Myanmar, the New Delhi-based expatriate news agency Mizzima has produced a Fact Sheet, which they plan to update regularly, about the state of negotiations with the 17 or more ceases-fire groups through which the military government would like to convert local armies and militia into Border Guard Forces with the infusion of regular Burmese Army Officers. This is a complex issue, at the very heart of current uncertainties about the integration of ethnic nationalities into the new Union of the Republic of Myanmar. This Fact Sheet should be read in conjunction with three further Fact Sheets on Ethnic Conflict and Ceasefires as well as on Ethnic Groups and Elections and also Ethnic Candidates. Other webpages on ethnic issues are also under construction.
Asia Times - 30 April 2010 Brian McCartan reviews the lack of progress towards the conversion into Border Guard Forces of the militia of more than 25 ceasefire groups, notably the three largest groups which are the KIO/KIA (Kachin), UWSA (Wa) and NDAA (Eastern Shan State). Sunday Times (Colombo) - 31 January 2010
Deutsche Presse-Agentur - 5 December 2009
Myanmar's junta has officially transformed the rebel army of the Kokang region into a border guard force under its command, state media reported Saturday. A ceremony marking the metamorphosis from former rebel force to the Kokang border guards was held in Si-aw in Laukkai district of the Shan State Friday, The New Light of Myanmar reported. Kokang leader Pe Sauk Chain said that the formation of the new border force in the region showed 'they have embraced the chance of discharging national defence duties in cooperation with the Tatmadaw.' Institute for Security and Policy Development No.13 - 2 December 2009
Xiaolin Guo relates that on August 27-30, 2009, fighting broke out between the Kokang ceasefire group (MNDAA) and the Myanmar/ Burma government army, sending 30,000 refugees across the border into Yunnan province in southwest China. To some observers, the timing of the conflict - less than a fortnight after a visit to Myanmar/Burma by U.S. Senator Jim Webb - seemed to indicate a calculated maneuver on the part of the ruling generals in Nay Pyi Taw to test international reactions as well as responses from its neighbors with regards to its exercise of power in the country’s borderlands. The actuality is that the event itself was part of a political process that the military government embarked upon already twenty years ago. What is special about this summer’s conflict itself, though, is where it occurred and the ethnicity of the population involved, which has implications for peace on the border and ultimately for bilateral relations between China and Myanmar/Burma. "Kokang Region remains peaceful and prosperous" - NLM 7 September 2009
The reports deny that recent incidents in Kokang reflect any problem between the government and other national races. These incidents are reportedly related to illegal arms and narcotics manufacture and associated trafficking activities carried out by Phon Kya Shin (Peng Jiasheng) and his accomplices. Reuters (Hua Hin) - 25 October 2009
China's premier is confident Myanmar will safeguard peace on its border, Chinese state media said on Sunday after violence erupted on the Myanmar side in August that pushed thousands of refugees into China. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also pledged more financial aid to the reclusive military-ruled country during a meeting with his Myanmar counterpart, Thein Sein, in the Thai town of Hua Hin, according to the state media report of the closed-door meeting. China's Xinhua state news agency said Wen believed Myanmar "could properly handle problems and safeguard peace and stability in the China-Myanmar border region" after the two met on the sidelines of a summit of 16 Asia-Pacific leaders.
Xinhua (Nanning) - 19 October 2009
China and Myanmar Monday vowed to deepen mutual cooperation in various aspects and safeguard stability on the border areas. The consensus was reached during a meeting between Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang and Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council First Secretary Tin Aung Myint Oo on Monday in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Both of them came to attend the 6th China-ASEAN Expo to be held from October 20 to 24. Li said the Chinese government paid high attention to Sino-Myanmar relations and would keep supporting Myanmar's economic construction and sustainable development. "China and Myanmar should make efforts together to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, as well as safeguard stability on the border areas for the sake of the fundamental interests of the two peoples," Li said.
Transnational Institute - September 2009
A perceptive report by TNI on recent troubles in the Kokang enclave. The report concludes: "Ethnic conflict must be resolved in order to bring about a lasting political solution in Burma. If ethnic minority needs and goals are not addressed peace and democracy are extremely unlikely to be achieved in Burma."
Euro Burma Analysis Paper No.1 - September 2009
An analysis of recent clashes in the Kokang enclave and of the historical background.
The Star (Malaysia) - 25 September 2009
Myanmar has ordered at least 10,000 Chinese citizens who are in the Kokang enclave but have no legal credentials to leave by Monday. Rumours spread among Chinese in the border area that fighting could restart soon in areas hit by unrest. China's foreign ministry declined immediate comment on the latest reports, but on Thursday it had issued a statement warning its citizens about the dangers of Kokang. "The Foreign Ministry and the Chinese embassy in Myanmar remind Chinese citizens and companies who are already in Northern Myanmar to pay attention to security risks," said the statement, also posted on the ministry's website. The statement suggested Chinese citizens planning to go to the northern part of the former Burma should suspend their trips.
M&C/Deutsche Presse-Agentur - 9 September 2009
Lashio, Myanmar: A Chinese intelligence tipoff about an illegal arms factory led to fighting that caused 30,000 ethnic Kokang refugees to flee across the Myanmar border into southern China, a Myanmar government source claimed Wednesday. The remarks by Myanmar Deputy Home Affairs Minister Brigadier General Phone Swe, seemed designed to defuse China's annoyance at last month's influx of thousands of Kokang refugees into Yunnan province. Phone Swe said China had told Myanmar about the factory during a joint ministerial meeting to combat crime held in July.
Xinhua - 9 September 2009
Myanmar's Kokang ethnic region in the northeast will become an autonomous region after 2010 general election in accordance with the new state constitution, Deputy Home Minister Brigadier-General Phone Swe told the diplomatic corps and Yangon-based foreign newsmen during their about 48-hour invited visit to northern Myanmar, mainly Kokang. The Bai Xuoqian group, breaking away from the Kokang ethnic army and cooperating with the government, told foreign media in Kokang that they accepts the government leadership and will take part in the general election in 2010. The combined group, under heavy escort, also visited the sealed arms factory in Kokang's Laukkai as well as the locations where drugs were seized.
 Ms Jiang Wu explains that: "I'd like to stress that to safeguard border stability is in the vital interest of people from the two countries. It is also the common responsibility of the two governments. We hope Myanmar could properly handle its domestic issues and take every measure necessary to restore stability along the border and guarantee the safety and property of Chinese citizens in Myanmar." China fails to prevent Myanmar's ethnic clashes The reports deny that recent incidents in Kokang reflect any problem between the government and other national races. These incidents are reportedly related to illegal arms and narcotics manufacture and associated trafficking activities carried out by Phon Kya Shin (Peng Jiasheng) and his accomplices.
Carl Mortished: The Times 1 September 2009
As Burma’s links with China multiply, as roads are built, as pipe is laid, the risk posed by the rebels and the drug trade become more inconvenient than the short-term profit. Burma’s new friend is not keen on insurrection and it might be prepared to look away while the Burmese Army cracks a few heads on Chinese soil. We had Tony Blair’s “ethical foreign policy” and Burma was the pilot test, the first and last occasion when we put morality before money. Premier Oil, a small British company, was told to quit Burma. Eventually, it did. Burma turned its face East and found bigger friends. Our writ no longer runs east of Suez. It is China’s dominion and one good outcome of this Burmese refugee crisis is that Beijing must begin to acknowledge that, if it wishes to plunder the world like a colonial power, it must police it, too. Power brings responsibility and refugees. A more civilised Burma would bring Beijing less trouble and more profit.
China Daily Beijing: 1 September 2009
The Chinese Foreign Ministry Tuesday said it was the common responsibility of China and Myanmar to safeguard the stability of their common border. "Safeguarding the stability of the China-Myanmar border is in line with the vital interests of both people and is the shared responsibility of both governments," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu. Referring to recent unrest in Myanmar's Shan province, Jiang said: "We hope the situation will calm down as soon as possible and Myanmar border inhabitants who fled to China can return to their homeland at an early date." Jiang said China and Myanmar were friendly neighbours and China hoped Myanmar would maintain peace and stability. "We hope Myanmar can resolve its domestic issues and take all necessary measures to restore order and stability in the border area." Myanmar Government says situation in Kokang has returned to normal Larry Jagan: Asia Times Online - 31 August 2009
An analysis of the causes behind the recent fighting in Kokang Region in Shan State and of the implications for relations with other ethnic groups, including particularly the more formidable Wa.
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Special Themes
• International Crisis Group• Google Map of Yangon
• Myanmar CSO Statistics
• ILO in Myanmar
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