Recently, the military government of Myanmar finally saw the situation in the world and knew that it is urgent to have good relations with China. Myanmar took a major action against the e-fraud gang in the border area and immediately sent senior officials to China to discuss cooperation.
Myanmar's actions against China
At the beginning of this concern, In mid-October, the Burmese military launched a large-scale clearance operation on the notorious “KK park” located on the border with Myanmar.。 This operation was unprecedented. The Myanmar military dispatched armored vehicles and special forces, not only seizing hundreds of buildings used for telecom fraud, but also detaining more than 2,000 people involved in the case, and even seizing satellite equipment used for cross-border communications in the park.
The KK Park has a complex background and has long been regarded as a "untouchable" gray area. This time, the Myanmar military is determined to eradicate it. It is widely interpreted as a "name for speech" or "proof of sincerity" for subsequent cooperation with China.
Soon after the clean-up operation, Myanmar’s military government’s energy minister, Wu Gogol, visited China at the headquartersHis journey was very targeted: first he went to Shaanxi Elin to explore the technology of increasing production in the old oil fields, then to Beijing to meet with executives of several Chinese energy companies such as China Petroleum.
During the talks, Myanmar put forward clear demands: It is hoped that China will increase investment in Myanmar's energy sectorThis includes helping upgrade aging oil fields, building refineries, and providing technical training to Myanmar personnel.
Why is Myanmar so eager?
The direct reason why Myanmar is so eager to seek help from China is that it faces severe domestic energy difficulties. Myanmar's domestic oil refining capacity is poor.Although a large amount of crude oil can be obtained annually through the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline, the old refineries cannot be processed effectively, leading to the need for high-priced finished oil imports, which has pushed up domestic oil prices. On the other hand, the output of many old oil fields has declined, and technology and funding are urgently needed to boost output.
The deeper reason is that since the coup in 2021, Myanmar has been subject to Western sanctions, and international energy giants such as Total of France and Chevron of the United States have withdrawn, making Myanmar more economically and diplomatically isolated, and China has become its most important and may even be the only partner that it can rely on. Therefore, the Minonley government has chosen to show China its willingness to cooperate through practical action in exchange for its support in key areas such as energy.
China's considerations and prospects for cooperation
How will China respond to Myanmar's request for goodwill and cooperation? From the perspective of historical and practical interests, China is happy to see Myanmar crack down on cross-border electronic fraud, but this is regarded as Myanmar's responsibility as a sovereign country, rather than a "bargaining chip" used to exchange interests.
China has a longer vision when considering cooperation. Myanmar's strategic location is crucial. It is an important land route for China to the Indian Ocean. The China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline is one of the diversified paths for energy imports.
Therefore, China attaches great importance to whether Myanmar can become a long-term stable partner, jointly safeguard the peace of the border and promote the construction of the China-Myanmar economic corridor.