Nowadays, the war in northern Myanmar has intensified, and it was famous in those yearsPeng Deren, the son of Peng Jiasheng, the "King of Northern Myanmar", has already led the Kokang Alliance troops to Lao Cai City, the capital of the Kokang region, preparing to conquer the last nest of the so-called "Four Great Families" in northern Myanmar in one fell swoop。In addition to the Kokang Allied Army, the De'ang Army and the Kachin Army have also announced that they have joined the ranks of the Kokang Allied Army and are fighting side by side with them in northern Myanmar. In addition, Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD Defence Force and Karen forces in Karen State in southeastern Myanmar have also started corresponding military operations.
It is no exaggeration to say that at present, the whole of Myanmar is already full of gunsmoke, which is really a bit of the meaning of "eighteen roads against the king, sixty-four smoke and dust" at the end of the Sui Dynasty. However, what makes people feel strange is that there are dozens of so-called "people's armed forces" scattered throughout MyanmarThe largest and most powerful "United Wa State Army" has not made any moves so far, so what's going on?In this issue, let's talk about this topic together.
When the "United Wa State Army" is mentioned, then naturally it is impossible not to mention the Wa State。What many people may not know is that Wa State is not the official name of Myanmar, and the Burmese authorities refer to this land in the Awa Mountains as the Wa Special Region 2 of Myanmar or the Shan State 2 of Northern Shan State. In other words, this is actually a region under the Shan State, not a provincial administrative region of Myanmar, which is why we do not see the "Wa State" on the map of Myanmar's political regions. Despite this, however, the locals still refer to it as "Wa State" and have been tirelessly demanding that it be upgraded to the same level as the Shan State.
Map of the political districts of Myanmar
Wa State FlagWa State is not a complete regionInstead, it is divided into two regions, "Northern Wa State" and "Southern Wa State".The northern region is separated by about 400 kilometers from the southern region. The area of the northern part of the country is about 170,000 square kilometers, while the southern region has 1It is 30,000 square kilometers and has a total population of about 600,000 people.
Map of Wa State
Bang Kang, the capital of Wa StateWith an area of 30,000 square kilometers and a population of more than 600,000, such a volume is by no means small in northern Myanmar。You must know that the total area of Kokang District, which has turned northern Myanmar upside down, is only 2,700 square kilometers and the population is only 200,000, while Hongyan Township, where Peng Deren started, is only 36 square kilometers in area, and the population may be less than 10,000.
And with such land and population, the strength and scale of the United Wa State Army are far from being comparable to the Kokang Allied Army. According to the public statistics of relevant parties, at present, the United Wa State Army ((UWSA) has three divisions and a military region, with a total number of more than 40,000 people, and at the local level, the Wa United Army has also formed a "county team" in various counties (including a regiment in Mengmao County, that is, the 629th Regiment) and militia forces, and these local armed forces also have nearly 60,000 people!In this way, the total number of the entire Wa coalition army is as high as 100,000!
In terms of scale, the United Wa State Army is undoubtedly the largest ethnic armed force in Myanmar!
Moreover, after years of development, the United Wa State Army is not only numerous, but also very powerful in the "civilian army" in northern Myanmar, in addition to being lightThe UWA has also displayed heavy equipment such as armored vehicles, light missiles, 75mm recoilless guns, and even drones during military paradesIn terms of equipment, the United Wa State Army is one of the best among the armed forces in northern Myanmar.
Armored vehicles equipped by the United Wa State Army
UAVs of the United Wa State ArmyWhat is even more surprising is that the United Wa State Army also has an "air force" force that is undoubtedly the envy of the rest of the civilian forces in northern Burma！According to sources from relevant parties,The UWA also received a number of Russian-made Mi-17 Hippo medium transports from third-country channels***There are ** pylons on both sides of these ***, carrying Tianyan-90 air-to-air missiles, and can also carry uncontrolled rocket launch nests, up to 100 rounds of 57mm uncontrolled rockets, with powerful ground strike firepower, which can be described as a secret heavy weapon of the United Wa State Army.
Moreover,Each member of the United Wa State Army receives 50 catties of rice and about 100-200 yuan of "vegetable money" per month。This kind of treatment is very good among the armed forces in northern Myanmar, which also makes the armed forces often more combative. In addition,The UWA also runs four military schools, which are reportedly taught by retired officers of Taiwan's local armed forces who are hired with high salaries.
On the whole, the United Wa State Army is large in number, well-equipped, and has a high quality of members, which can be called a brave and good fighting force in northern Myanmar. So since that's the case,Why didn't the UWA join the Kokang Allied Army and the rest of the "Mindi Wu" and attack Min Aung Hlaing authorities in Naypyidaw?There's a reason for that, of course.
First of all, the biggest and most direct reason is that the United Wa State Army has long since shaken hands with the Burmese authorities and reached an agreement.
According to the "Mutual Trust Agreement" signed between the two sides on October 12, 2015, the UWA will be "self-managed and self-managed" in its jurisdictionNo one from the Burmese authorities is allowed to enter the Wa State without the permission of the combined Wa forces。At the same time, the Burmese authorities provide 420,000 kyats of "activity funds" to Wa every month, as well as a large amount of rice, gasoline and other supplies.
In exchange, the Wa State will not have any contact with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD and the rest of the armed forces and groups opposing the Burmese authorities, nor will it be allowed to "secede" from the Union of Burma.
Since the signing of this agreement, the Burmese Army and the Wa Coalition Army have been uneventfulThe two militaries even held joint military Xi on the Burma-Thailand border in 2000.
Second, the relevant parties in Wa State have become highly integrated with Myanmar at the economic level, and the two sides have almost formed a "community of interests".
In December 1990, with the encouragement of the Myanmar authorities, Wa State established the "Wa State Comprehensive Development Corporation" and started vigorous economic construction. In the past few decades, Wa State has successively established a number of large and small enterprises such as Hongbang Company, Dekang Company, Kangxiang Jewelry Company, Bangkang Water Company, Dangyang Red Brick Factory, etc. In addition, Wa companies have also established Yangon Airlines, which is influential throughout Myanmar, Mayflower Bank in Myanmar, and Skylink, the only mobile communication company in Myanmar that provides GSM network services. At present, according to the statistics,Wa State has opened no less than 20 enterprises in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, with total assets of up to US$2 billion.
In addition,It was also with the support of the Burmese army that the Wa State also won the right to mine jade in the Hpakant area through its own commercial enterprise, Hongbang Company, etcThis is evident in the depth of economic and commercial cooperation between the two sides.
At present, in the process of peaceful development and economic construction in the past few decades, Wa State has received a series of support from the Burmese authorities, and the economy of Wa State has become more and more developed.
In early November, Wa authorities issued a public statement saying they were in the midst of the conflict."will not participate in any military operations and will not choose sides"., clearly expressed his "outsider neutrality" attitude. In addition, the UWA also stated, ".If any military force illegally enters the airspace and territory of Wa State, they will deal a devastating blow”。And this is by no means an empty word.
And perhaps only when the situation is completely clear, the United Wa State Army, with its 100,000 people, will finally decide whose side it will be on.