Myanmar's civil war continues, and the latest news suggests that the fighting has spread to the vicinity of a major Chinese project. Not long ago, China and Myanmar signed relevant agreements, so all parties in Myanmar should understand that China's efforts over the past 15 years must not be in vain. According to a report by Myanmar's Myanmar Moment, the Arakan Army, a local ethnic militia group from Myanmar, attacked the Danyawati naval base in Kyaukphyu Township, southern Rakhine State on the west coast of Myanmar. Local residents witnessed the exchange of fire between the two sides, saw the firing of shells and missiles, heard gunfire and **. Some people said that they docked in Myanmar** in the military port. However, due to the closure of part of the road, local residents were unable to provide more detailed information. The Myanmar Military Council claimed that although fighting had not yet broken out in Kyaukphyu town, there were ***armed forces from afar**, while the navy fought back. The report specifically mentions a key point in the area, namely Kyaukphyu Port.
This port is not only the starting point of the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline, but also the end point of the China-Myanmar Railway. The Chinese side values it because of its extremely important location. It has direct access to the Bay of Bengal without having to go through the Straits of Malacca. As we all know, the Strait of Malacca has always been a sensitive area, through which many cargo ships have to pass, but it can be easily controlled if the situation changes. Kyaukphyu Port offers another option. Goods exported from China can be transported overland to the Kyaukpyu port, through which they can enter the Indian Ocean and be shipped around the world. Similarly, foreign goods do not need to detour through the Strait of Malacca, but can be unloaded directly at Kyaukphyu Port and transported to China by land in the southwest. In a sense, it has a similar role to the Gwadar port in Pakistan. In addition, the Kyaukphyu port is also important in ensuring China's energy security, as the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline passes through it.
China has four important energy corridors, connecting Russia, Central Asia, the eastern seaboard, and southwest Myanmar. Of course, this does not mean that Myanmar will be self-sufficient, but that Chinese energy will first arrive in Myanmar and then be transported to China. As we all know, eggs cannot be put in one basket, and these four energy corridors are essential to guarantee China's energy security. China and Myanmar have cooperated to build Kyaukpyu Port, which is located in the deep sea with a water depth of more than 20 meters and can accommodate large ships of 20 to 300,000 tons. China has already expressed its intention to jointly develop the Kyaukphyu port to Myanmar, and Myanmar has also expressed its active support, because joint development and economic cooperation are in the interests of both sides. As early as 2009, Chinese enterprises signed the "Memorandum of Cooperation on Kyaukphyu Economic and Technological Development Zone, Deep-water Port and Railway Project" with Myanmar**.
Subsequently, in 2014, Myanmar issued a public tender for the development of the Kyaukphyu Special Zone, and Chinese companies also officially submitted relevant documents. By the end of 2015, Myanmar announced that a Chinese company had won the bid for the Kyaukphyu Port and Industrial Park project, which was approved by the Cabinet and Parliament. Subsequently, the two countries signed a series of cooperation agreements, which received the attention of China's top leaders. Recently, Chinese representatives also traveled to Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, to participate in the signing ceremony of the supplementary agreement for the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone Deepwater Port Project. Overall, the cooperation between China and Myanmar at Kyaukphyu Port has not been smooth sailing, but it has not been bumpy either. One of the key reasons for this is the instability of the domestic political situation in Myanmar. In particular, in the coup d'état that took place in 2021, high-ranking figures such as former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were seized by the military, and the actual control fell into the hands of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. This leaves the previous agreement with China uncertain. For China, the agreements that have been signed need to be carefully implemented.
Despite the turbulent domestic political situation in Myanmar, the relevant agreements between China and Myanmar are completely equal and mutually beneficial, which is beneficial to China and the development of Myanmar. Regardless of how the domestic political situation in Myanmar changes, the relevant cooperation agreements should be implemented. In fact, all parties in Myanmar are well aware of the fact that China is very important to Myanmar, and Myanmar's development is indispensable to China. However, understanding the truth and implementing concrete actions are two different things. The ongoing civil war in Myanmar has led to a chaotic situation in the country. Under such circumstances, all parties must be extremely cautious, especially to ensure the safety of Chinese projects in Myanmar and the personal and property safety of Chinese citizens. Recently, Burmese artillery shells have even penetrated China's territory, which has had a serious impact on China. In this regard, the Chinese side has expressed strong dissatisfaction and made solemn representations. In addition, China sent a delegation to Myanmar to meet with Min Aung Hlaing and other senior leaders.
There is no doubt about China's position, and all forces in Myanmar must clearly understand this. As for the exchange of fire near Kyaukpyu Harbour, although the situation is not particularly tense at the moment, vigilance must be maintained. All forces in Myanmar must remain sober-minded and ready to respond to the unexpected.