China's Foreign Minister Meets Myanmar's Military Leader Amid Civil War

In a significant diplomatic move, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Myanmar on Wednesday, meeting with the military government’s leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing. This visit comes amid escalating instability in Myanmar due to a civil war that has seen the military suffer unprecedented defeats against powerful ethnic militias, particularly in the northeast near the Chinese border. Wang emphasized China's commitment to stability and peace in Myanmar, condemning the attacks by ethnic militias on army-controlled regions. China, Myanmar's largest trading partner, has invested heavily in the country’s infrastructure, including mines and oil pipelines. However, the military's inability to manage the rising resistance from ethnic militias poses a threat to the stability that is crucial for safeguarding Chinese interests. Analysts suggest that relations between Beijing and the military leadership, especially with Min Aung Hlaing, are increasingly strained, as China views the current regime as incompetent and untrustworthy. The situation intensified in October when the Three Brotherhood Alliance, comprising the Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, launched a coordinated offensive against the military. They captured significant territories, including key border crossings and military bases, prompting a broader resistance movement against military rule across Myanmar. Experts predict that China will continue to seek ways to protect its investments and strategic interests in Myanmar, regardless of which factions emerge victorious from the ongoing conflict.