Vested Interests

Myanmar’s military and one of the country’s main ethnic rebel groups signed a ceasefire deal to halt hostilities in the country’s northeast, an agreement that highlights China’s push to stabilize its border regions and safeguard its investments after the breakdown of a previous truce, Reuters reported.

The deal, which takes effect this week, came after Chinese-mediated talks between the junta and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in the southwestern city of Kunming, China over the weekend.

Chinese officials confirmed the deal Monday, saying that Beijing will provide peace-building support.

The MNDAA is one of the many rebel groups fighting for autonomy in Myanmar. It is also part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance which includes the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and Arakan Army.

The alliance launched a major offensive against the military junta in October 2023 near the border with China, seizing strategic territory and pushing toward the central city of Mandalay. The MNDAA had also taken control of a key military base near the border in July.

The new agreement comes a year after a January 2024 ceasefire – also brokered by China –collapsed after five months amid accusations of violations by the junta.

China previously responded by temporarily closing border crossings and cutting off electricity to rebel-controlled areas, the Associated Press added.

Myanmar’s army has been grappling with armed unrest since it ousted the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 2021 coup.

Analysts said Beijing’s involvement highlights its concerns about instability near its 2,000-kilometer border.

China has major geopolitical and economic interests in the Southeast Asian country, with observers noting that the violence would jeopardize its investments and cross-border trade.