AA holds talks with China

By Admin 16 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
16 December 2024, Mrauk-U

Amid intense fighting in Arakan State, the Arakkha Army (AA) held talks with Chinese officials in Tengchong, China, on December 1.

The AA delegation was led by AA deputy chief Dr. Nyo Twan Awng. Neither side has released details about the meeting, and DMG was unable to reach AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha.

The AA has seized 12 of 17 townships in Arakan State over the past 13 months and is currently focused on capturing Ann and Gwa towns. The regime only fully controls Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung towns.

Observers have speculated that the two sides may have discussed the safety of Chinese projects in Arakan State's Kyaukphyu Township.

One 88 Generation Arakan student leader said: "The major topic of the discussion might be the protection of Chinese interests in Arakan State. They might also have discussed the ending of Operation 1027 as the AA is one of the members of the Brotherhood Alliance. But I don't think China can pressure the AA like it has done on the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The AA would not allow China to pressure it."

China has influence on the other two groups as they share a land border, but Arakan State is far from China, he said. Unlike the two other groups, the AA can trade with India and Bangladesh, he added.

The MNDAA announced a unilateral ceasefire on December 3. The regime and the MNDAA met in Kunming on Sunday.

The TNLA also stated on November 25 that it was ready to talk with the regime considering the suffering of the people. It held talks with the regime on December 8.

Political analyst U Than Soe Naing said the meeting may have yielded favourable results for the AA.

"The AA has seized 90 percent of Arakan State. It appears that it can capture Kyaukphyu, the site of Chinese projects, without fighting. Perhaps China has held talks with the AA because of that," he said.

China specialists say a China-brokered truce between the regime and Brotherhood Alliance would not last long.