Mizzima
The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) has been in discussions with China about Chinese investments in Rakhine State where the AA has captured a lot of territory from the Myanmar junta.
News of the discussions was revealed by AA spokesperson, Khaing Thu Kha, when he responded to a journalist’s question at the AA’s ninth online press conference, held on 8 June.
He said that the discussions took place after the China-brokered Haigeng Peace Agreement between the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the Myanmar junta that brought an end to their fighting in northern Shan State in January 2024, but did not say exactly when the talks had taken place.
Though the AA is part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, (the other members are the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, (TNLA)) no ceasefire was agreed for Rakhine or Chin states where the AA mainly operates.
At the 8 June press conference, Khaing Thu Kha said: “The Republic of China wants peaceful negotiations to get a potential answer. Additionally, it wants to fully protect its economic interests in Rakhine State. It also wants to stabilise border regions.”
He also said that it was AA policy to protect economic investments in Rakhine State, but acknowledged that there were still many challenges to implementing a ceasefire in the State.
“We told the junta to stop targeting civilians. But the fighting continues not only in Rakhine but also in other related conflict areas. Thus, it is very challenging to agree a ceasefire”, he said.
On 26 December 2023, the China-owned CITIC Group signed a follow-up contract to develop the Kyaukpyu deep-sea port and special economic zone project in Rakhine State. The China-owned Sino-Myanmar gas and oil pipelines also run from Kyaukpyu and cross Rakhine State going before going to Yunnan in Chin
