On 22 December, clashes broke out again between the Burmese army and the northern Burmese coalition forces, and although the Burmese army showed stronger resistance, it was still defeated in the fighting in northern Shan State. Recently, news that the Myanmar** army had launched large-scale air strikes and artillery strikes against coalition forces in northern Shan State has raised a series of concerns about the safety of the pipeline. Could a military conflict near the pipeline lead to the pipeline **What exactly is the attitude of both sides towards the pipeline?
The Myanmar Air Force allegedly carried out air strikes and artillery strikes on northern Shan State, with some of the bombs and shells falling near the oil and gas pipelines. This area is located in the proximity to China part of the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline. The airstrikes began on 29 October against the positions of the Mandalay People's Defence Forces (YPDF) and the Liberation Army (ALA), while on 6 December, an airstrike on the village of Nam Kanho Na resulted in the death and injury of nine civilians, one of which was just 40 metres from the pipeline.
However, does this mean that the two sides really intend to sabotage the oil and gas pipelines?Although the conflict revolves around oil and gas pipelines, for the Myanmar army, pipelines are an important economy, and blowing up pipelines will not help its fighting efforts. Similarly, Mindi Wu generally refrains from sabotaging pipelines. In the past, Kachin has sabotaged the Myitsone hydroelectric dam, but more needs to be learned about the current conflict and whether there was an intent to blow up the pipeline.
In the recent fighting, although the Burmese army has shown resistance, the coalition forces are also conquering the Guanyin Mountain in northern Shan State, capturing 45 Burmese soldiers. However, the war situation is affected by many factors, including weather, terrain and other factors. On the 23rd, due to rainy weather in Zhenkang County, the aircraft could not be dispatched, which also affected the situation of the war.
These clashes have raised concerns about pipeline safety and the intentions of both sides. What is the real purpose of the war?Will the safety of the pipeline be further threatened?What are the motives and intentions behind this conflict?