CNI News

12 May 2025

The political status of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), which is designated as a “Wa” self-administered division under the 2008 constitution, is “full sovereignty” except for not declaring independence, U Khun Sai, who is involved in the peace process, told CNI News.

The six townships of Hopan, Mong Maw, Pan Wai, Nar Phan, Matman, and Pan Kham (Pang Sang) in Shan State have been divided into two districts and designated as “Wa” self-administered divisions under the 2008 constitution.

Other ethnic armed groups (EAOs) have sought political status like the Wa, but have failed to achieve it. They only want to be designated as a special region.

"The “Wa” situation is that they just didn’t declare independence. They have everything. They have sovereignty. They have their own army. So what China is talking about is one country, two systems. Whether our country is democratic, federal or unitary, they will remain independent. They will simply not declare independence. When the “Wa” hold a ceremony, they raise both a union flag and a “Wa” flag. But the union army cannot enter their region." said U Khun Sai.

While seeing leader of the UWSA and former Chinese Special Envoy Mr. Sun Guoxiang

The Arakan Army (AA) has stated that it wants to achieve confederation status like the “Wa” as the lowest political level and its highest goal is to establish an independent territory. 
Therefore, starting in November 2023, the AA has been waging battles in Rakhine State and has been able to occupy 14 of the 17 townships in Rakhine State during the past over a year.

The “Wa” has achieved the political status it currently enjoys because of the actions it has taken to defend the country, U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI News.

While seeing two leaders of the AA

“In the past, there was a border issue with Thailand, and at that time it was SURA. When we were fighting with the groups led by U Yaw Sit, who has now made peace, the “Wa” used to be part of the Myanmar military as a national defense force. That's why the Myanmar Tatmadaw had created a self-administered zone for the "Wa". The existence of the "Wa" and its place depend on it. If the AA wants a level like "Wa", we have to ask what the AA has done for the defense of the country. That's why when the constitution was drafted, the "Wa" self-administered division was included. If the AA wants to achieve a status beyond “Wa”, it first needs to answer the question of what the AA did to achieve “Wa” status. If AA can't answer that, I think they will have to try to stay in their current position." he said.

In Myanmar, the “Wa” Self-Administered Division, the Kokang Self-Administered Zone, the Danu Self-Administered Zone, the Palaung Self-Administered Zone, the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone, and the Naga Self-Administered Zone have been designated.