CNI News
16 June 2025
China should not be seen as exerting influence over Myanmar, but rather as cooperating to advance mutual interests, said U Thein Htun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies.
China is pressuring the Northern Alliance (MNDAA-AA-TNLA) to stop the town and camp capture battles and return the captured towns to the Myanmar Tatmadaw.
China and Myanmar share a long border and China should be seen as playing a role in ensuring peace and stability in Myanmar because China wants to maintain bilateral relations, said U Thein Tun Oo.
“Myanmar and China share a long border. We need to build a good and stable free relationship. We need to create a win-win situation in terms of economy. Then, it is important to build a close relationship in global affairs and regional peacebuilding. Good relations between the two countries will greatly benefit regional stability and the country’s future. Whether Myanmar has been under the influence of China is variously viewed by the West, ASEAN and India. But the most important thing is how Myanmar sees itself. It depends on how you see yourself and how you build yourself. Whether Myanmar falls under China or not is not a major title for us." said U Thein Tun Oo.
seeing leaders of the MNDAA, the AA and the TNLA
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) handed over Lashio and the Northeast Command to the Myanmar Tatmadaw in April 2025, and is preparing to hand over the town of Theinni.
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) is also facing pressure from China to hand over the towns of Kutkai, Hsipaw, Kyaukme, Naungcho, Mogok, and Namkham, which it has controlled, to the Myanmar Tatmadaw.
China is intervening to help Myanmar rather than exerting influence, as the collapse of the central government could have negative effects on neighboring countries, National Democratic Force (NDF) vice chairman U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News.
“ Rather than China’s influence, China is helping us solve the problems that are happening in our country. As a neighbor, Thailand is also helping us solve them. India is also helping us solve them. They don’t want our country to collapse. If it collapses, all the surrounding countries will be affected, so they are helping us solve them. China is a powerful country. And since China has a very strong relationship with Myanmar, if SAC can get China's back up, then it may be said that SAC might be under the influence of China. The main thing is that the country needs to have good immunity. If the immunity is strong, the rest will not be a problem and any country can't influence on our country." he said.
While seeing the private security service law
Battles are breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and armed groups across the country. And the Myanmar Tatmadaw has lost control of several hundreds of military camps, two military commands and over 90 towns, affecting Chinese investments, projects and companies. Moreover, China-Myanmar border trade also has suspended.
Chinese president Xi Jinping told Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to carry out the security for the Chinese investments, projects, companies and their staff during his meeting with the senior general in Russia in May, 2025.
With above-mentioned situations, after the SAC had to face pressures from China, the SAC had to enact the private security service law on February 8, 2025 to enable Chinese security forces to enter Myanmar in order to protect Chinese interests, pointed out military and political analysts.
