“China’s once-promising economic relationship with Myanmar has deteriorated owing to the escalating civil war. In particular, the border town of Ruili, which symbolizes cooperation between the two countries, is currently struggling economically because of the conflict. Thousands of Myanmar refugees fled to China, while Chinese firms were negatively impacted by disrupted trade and labor shortages. The situation underlines the challenges faced by China and Myanmar as they negotiate the geopolitical landscape.”
Border Demarcation Change.
Once a culturally and economically collaborative border, the border between China and Myanmar has converted from informal boundaries established by bamboo fencing and ditches to conducting surveillance on the border with a new tall metal fence topped with barbed wiring. This change represents a pretty dramatic metamorphosis due to the recent pandemic lockdowns in China and the civil war that is currently taking place in Myanmar.
The civil war which has only increased in violence since the bloody coup in 2021 has escalated the amount of fighting along the border and especially in an area in the border region called Shan State. The civil war has proven risky for China, where they have invested millions in Myanmar in the form of a vital trade corridor. The trade corridor that would ultimately connect landlocked southwest China to the Indian Ocean through Myanmar is now in peril due to the ongoing battles.
The Consequences of War in Human Terms.
The human toll of the conflict has been substantial for residents living along the border, with many people being left with no option due to violence and the deep economic devastation caused by violence. Residents remaining in the border town are living a precarious existence with an uncertain future, almost no job opportunities, and extraordinarily high prices.
Li Mianzhen, a Chinese woman who used to sell clothes over the border in Myanmar, articulates the difficult situation that her neighbors are facing. In a distressing plea for help, she says people are desperate to find work, even if it means crossing the border to China for hours to earn a small and pitiful amount of money. People are also restricted from travelling due to the fighting, making family ties difficult and often impossible.
Zin Aung, a young man who fled Myanmar for work in China, tells a similar story. He shares the hardship of living in a country at war, without basics like food and safety. Even during this time of conflict, Zin Aung believes that there is more hope for a better future in China than in Myanmar for him and hundreds of mentions of refugees in the area.
The Quandary for China.
China is in a precarious situation as a result of the ongoing war in Myanmar. The conflict is disrupting Beijing’s greater plans for regional economic development. China has made significant investments in Myanmar, and instability could put such investments at risk.
China has sought a role to mediate the conflict, but maneuvering to develop a lasting peace has been difficult with the military government becoming more isolated and the opposition forces developing increasing fractures.
There is ambiguity about the future of the China-Myanmar border. The ongoing war and its economic ramifications present substantial challenges for China and Myanmar. It remains to be seen how China will respond to this situation and whether it will achieve a beneficial solution for both sides.
