Chinese desire for cessation of combat in Myanmar was communicated to MAL during Chinese Foreign Minister’s visit in August. This is the Junta following Chinese orders to conduct peace talks. I believe Chinese-influenced and armed guerillas will be amongst the 1st to agree to these “peace talks” - 1st and foremost MNDAA. It’ll be interesting to see if Taang National Liberation Army and Arakan Army follows suit as we are approaching the dry winter season when it is most advantageous to conduct warfare in the jungles of Myanmar. This will show us just how tight a leash China has on TNLA and AA.

Chinese desire for peace in Burma isn’t based on altruism. Afterall, they have been arming various guerilla groups in Burma since the 1950s to this very day. They want the cessation of combat as it has infringed upon the large infrastructure projects they have been trying to implement through Burma in order to ignite economic growth in the land-locked and poor southwestern part of China by paving a trade corridor through Burma to India whose growing large population is an attractive market, Africa where it has invested billions and billions of dollars to ensure guaranteed supply of resources, and the European market. China has been facing a slowing economy for more than a few years now, and currently is dealing with real-estate collapse and deflation. It is desperate to re-ignite economic growth, the lowest hanging fruits being populous regions with low level of economic development.