CNI News
2 June 2025
If the central government of Myanmar fails to maintain good relations with China on the “Wa” issue, the “Wa” region may secede, U Sai Htay Aung, chairman of the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), told CNI News.
The EAOs that have achieved confederation status beyond the federal system in Myanmar are the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).
U Sai Htay Aung told CNI that the “Wa” has reached a point where the central government’s influence is no longer applicable, and that if the central government has good relations with China, China will not try to make the WA break away from the country.
" If the central government doesn't have a good relation, the 'Wa' region can break away from Myanmar like the Kashmir seceded from India because everything that is being used in the Wa region is related to China. A lot of Wa people live on the China-Myanmar border and within China. So, the central government has no longer power over the Wa region. But there have been no battles between the central government and the Wa army for over 30 years. The Wa leaders were able to carry out to develop the Wa region. If there is a major war between the central government and the Wa region, the Wa region could secede from Myanmar, if China recognizes it. But the central government has a good relation with China, China won't accept the secession." he said.
While seeing a UWSA comrade and Pangsang City
When UWSP/UWSA leaders meet with every elected government, including the leaders of the Myanmar Tatmadaw, they demand that the “Wa” self-administered division be recognized as “Wa” State.
The UWSP/UWSA’s request to establish the “Wa” region as a self-administered state was agreed in principle, said leader of the SAC's Information Team Major General Zaw Min Tun in a press conference on June 1, 2022.
However, discussions reportedly will continue after the future multi-party democratic elections are held and a parliament is formed. Under the 2008 constitution, the townships of Hopang, Mong Mao, Panwai, Naphan, Matman and Pankham (Pansang) in Shan State are divided into two districts and designated as the “Wa” Self-Administered Division.
China had no objection if a federal system that could be accepted by all ethnic groups could be drawn up . The current government or the next government needed to carry out the establishment of a federal system, U Khun Sai, who is involved in the peace process, told CNI News.
While seeing the 2008 constitution and the UWSA
"China has already made it clear that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. They have already said that they strictly adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We need to urge China to adhere to these principles. From our side, if we can agree on and draft a federal system that everyone can accept, whether it's the "Wa" or any other ethnic group, if we can make them accept it, China will have no objection, I believe. Right now, when the situation is not so clear, “Wa” is going its own way with its own army and its own system, we can’t say anything about it right now, whether we like it or not. The important thing is that if the next government or the current government is going to establish a federal system, it needs to be implemented in practice, not just verbally. If we do this, it will happen gradually." he said.
If the UWSA wants to obtain the state level, it will only be granted the kind of state level by the 2008 Constitution and in the 2008 constitution, the central government has controlled executive, judicial, and legislative powers.
However, the current UWSA exercise executive, judicial, and legislative powers, exceeding the 2008 Constitution.
Therefore, it is questionable what kind of state the UWSA is demanding, and how it will resolve the situation where the 2008 constitution does not allow for state level.
