cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/11318784
BEIJING - China has mediated peace talks between Myanmar’s ruling military and rebel groups, and the parties agreed on a temporary ceasefire and to maintain dialogue, Beijing said on Thursday.
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Pretty big claim that China, who seem pretty neutral on this conflict, are actually the puppet masters behind it. Even weirder since you’re basically accusing them of arming both sides. Why would they do that? Where’s the evidence for any of it?
The weirder thing about that claim is if China is arming both sides, then how are they a puppet master? A puppet master chooses who wins and who loses to control the puppet. If they’re not choosing a side, then they’re letting the combatants decide for themselves. The exact opposite of a puppet master.
You could argue China is an agent of chaos as they’re letting things play out however it will play out. But puppet master is hilariously wrong by even the most casual observation.
To the long time observers in the region it is well known that China has long been supplying weapons to the guerillas operating in Myanmar since after WWII. There is a long history of China’s active involvement in Burma which started with Communist Party of Burma (wiki link provided). China trained the communist guerillas of Burma. Once Communist Party of Burma (CPB) collapsed into its ethnic factions, their relationship with Beijing continued. The largest private armed organization or faction that broke off from CPB is the United Wa State Army with a standing count of 30,000 soldiers, the world’s largest private army - as big or bigger than armed forces of some countries including Sweden, Belgium, Georgia, Portugal. China sent an OFFICIAL representative to Wa State Army parade as an indication of how close the relationship is.[https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3006575/masters-our-destiny-myanmars-25000-united-wa-state-army]. Well known defense magazine Janes Weekly wrote an article of Chinese military equipment on display at the parade [https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/united-wa-state-army-military-parade-showcases-ongoing-modernisation#:~:text=Other modern Chinese infantry weapon,mounted 12.7 mm QJZ89 heavy]. Interestingly, the official currency and language in Wa State is the Yuan and Mandarin.
Recently in 2021, China has resuscitated Communist Party of Burma and its military wing People Liberation Army and they are active once again.
Article stating Indian government suspects Chinese helping guerilla groups on its border with Myanmar, outlining Beijing’s links to the guerilla armies in Myanmar: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/china-helping-rebel-groups-on-myanmar-border-india/articleshow/79601798.cms]
China also has been the main supplier of arms to Burmese military for decades. In the last 10 years under current Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing who was formerly the chief of staff of armed forces, Burmese military has complained of the reliability issues with Chinese weapons and have begun to seek alternative sources elsewhere - mainly Russia, but also India. Here are articles indicating who’s arming the illegitimate Junta in Myanmar: [(https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/9/16/who-is-selling-weapons-to-myanmar)] [https://apnews.com/article/myanmar-weapons-russia-china-singapore-05bd26bc54df8bc682ee1143f0f36a5e]
This China-backed Wa State Army seems to be staying neutral in this conflict though?
While they are not yet an official combatant they are supplying arms to the other guerillas as is China. I used the Wa State Army as evidence of Chinese relationship to the guerilla armies in Myanmar. It is also well documented and they flout their Chinese relationship internationally. China has an equally imbedded relationship with other guerilla armies.
That a China-backed militia is staying out of the conflict seems to me like it actually confirms that China wants to be neutral. And since you tried to pass this off as some sort of evidence for your claim that China is arming both sides, which it clearly isn’t, while not mentioning they are on neither side, makes me think you’re just trying to bullshit me.