CNI News
10 December 2025
Although the United States has recently shown a more favorable view toward Myanmar, China is not worried that the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) might shift toward the Western bloc, according to political and military analysts who spoke to CNI News.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on November 24 that it was ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar nationals, claiming that Myanmar is preparing for elections and showing visible improvements in governance.
Immediately after the U.S. announcement, Myanmar’s National Defense and Security Council closed all ongoing cases filed under Penal Code Section 505(a) and granted amnesties, a move analysts say was intended to show alignment with the U.S. position.
A political analyst told CNI News that because the U.S. ended TPS for its own national interests, China is not concerned that the Myanmar military will move closer to the U.S. or Western nations.
Flags of Myanmar and the United States
He said,“China won’t worry that much. As I mentioned earlier, they understand what’s going on.Why? Because Donald Trump never said anything like, ‘We support Myanmar’s election,’ or ‘The election is legitimate and important for restoring democracy,’ like China would say. The U.S. only said the situation had normalized enough based on their own interests, and that’s why they ended TPS.So China isn’t worried that the Myanmar military will follow the U.S. or join the Western bloc. They are confident the Myanmar military will never side with the U.S. They know that very well. So China is not really concerned.”
Analysts note that U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be attempting to shift U.S. policy toward Myanmar, and that the Myanmar military, in turn, seems to be taking positive actions toward the U.S. movement.
Since the outbreak of armed conflict in Myanmar after 2021, the revolutionary forces have been supported by the Western bloc, including the U.S., while China has mediated between the military and certain ethnic armed organizations.
Chinese Special Envoy Mr. Deng Xijun meeting Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
Colonel Khun Okkar, chairman of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO-NCA/S), told CNI News that China pays little attention to these recent U.S. statements because China itself is deeply involved in Myanmar’s political affairs.
He said,“China isn’t worried. China is directly involved in Myanmar’s affairs. From the Kokang issue to the Lashio issue, China has stepped into Myanmar territory and is managing things. So China won’t care much about a soft statement from the U.S.”
Myanmar will hold Election Phase (1) on December 28, 2025 in 102 townships, Phase (2) on January 11, 2026 in 100 townships, and Phase (3) in the last week of January 2026.
