Dr. Nyo Tun Aung, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Arakan Army, said _ at the 8th AA’s press conference held on March 4 _ that according to the mediation of the Chinese government, the three brotherhood alliances and the junta held a meeting in China’s Kunming City, on March 3 and reached some agreements between them.
“According to China’s mediation, the 3 northern alliances and the military junta have met and discussed in China 3 or 4 times. The ceasefire was agreed on last January 11. The ceasefire has been in effect since then. There is also a plan to publish the agreements reached in China’s talks and information knowing,” Dr. Nyo Tun Aung, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Arakan Army, said at the press conference.
According to the initial reports, the military junta and 3 northern alliances discussed and reached 6 agreements based on China’s mediation, and according to Dr. Nyo Tun Aung’s address, only some points of the agreement are reportedly correct.
In the agreement, it is included that the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) will be the Official Government of the Shan State Special Region in Kokang region, the military junta recognizes the captured cities as three alliances’, both sides do not advance in the agreed areas, and 3 northern alliances conduct to protect and avoid any damage to China’s national interests.
“The agreements can be true. Because these agreements are things that China wants. As the three brotherhood alliances cannot overcome China’s attitude, they will accept it according to their attitude. Neither the three northern alliances nor the military junta can overcome it, so China’s influence is about 70 percent. I think the remaining 30 percent can be compromised,” U Than Soe Naing, a political analyst, said.
In the agreement reached between the junta and the 3 northern alliances, it is reportedly included that the junta’s custom, trade, and immigration will be officed in Chin Shwe Haw and the Kokang and allied forces will take joint responsibility; the Kokang government will receive 70% of the tax revenue collected on goods from Chin Shwe Haw gate that will be traded to China on behalf of the 3 northern alliances, and the military junta will receive the remaining 30% of the tax.
“As a person who started to report this news for the first time, I don’t know what purpose he or she reported, where got it from, and how broadcasted it. What I can say for certain is that the previous agreement is still being discussed. We are continuing to strengthen the ceasefire. We are discussing the China-Myanmar border issue, online fraud gangs (KyarPhan), and how the border exits will operate. As for the percentage of taxation, there is no discussion,” said Dr. Nyo Tun Aung, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Arakan Army.
Since the end of last year, China-Myanmar border trade has almost stopped in the Northern Shan region, and in the past few days, officials from the Chinese Government and Yunnan State have visited Myanmar and held talks with the military junta in order to reopen border trade.