Linn Maung
Even though it has been planned for a long time, the railway line’s opening in 2021 to connect Chinshweweh with Lincang is a clear indication of continuous support that Myanmar is receiving from its powerful neighbour. The Yunnan province in China’s southwest is rural, secluded and still has some areas that are quite impoverished. The new line cuts across the mountains in an unsettling flash of modernism. From the popular tourist destination of Dali all the way to the end of the queue in the little mountain village of Lincang, which is only a short drive from the Myanmar border lies the extension of much awaited DURAI (Dali-Ruili) railway.
The railway line itself is a prime example of China’s model ‘bullet’ trains-modern, spotless, well-organized and always on schedule. Interactions with travellers along the road, it is clearly evident that it has significantly improved their lifes but it impacted the ecosystem as well.
It is clear from the enormous terminal at Lincang, replete with a sizable goods yard and cargo cranes, that this location was created to move a great deal of trade, from China to Myanmar and beyond.China initially refrained from commenting when the military Junta first took control in 2021, like many other nations in the area. It observed how things developed over the course of the next two years while maintaining contacts with opposing organisations. In May 2023, China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited Myanmar and was captured on camera meeting with Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the Junta, who Chinese officials had initially avoided. The message was quite clear that China is essentially endorsing this unlawful dictatorship and providing a genuine lifeline to its beleaguered leaders.
It is impossible to exaggerate how crucial this is to the Junta.China, which purchases 27% of all Myanmar’s exports of metals, precious stones, and rare earth elements, is the country’s main commercial partner. The most significant sector of Myanmar’s economy is the energy sector, and in 2022, China purchased 38% of its gas exports from Myanmar. A recent UN study claims that Chinese companies, some of which are state-owned, have sold more than £200 million worth of armaments to Myanmar since the coup. There is evidence that some of these products were used in the civil war, and the majority of these sales went directly to the Junta.What can it offer China, a nation known for its aversion to instability, though? The Lincang trade route, nevertheless has strategical importance.
The actual benefit of this railway is that it gives China access to the lucrative sea ports beyond, not simply through its neighbour.Prior to the line’s official opening, products were transported by water from Chengdu, China, through Myanmar and into Singapore. China places a high value on access to the Indian Ocean. Without the route through Myanmar, products would have to be transported the dangerous and lengthy Malacca Strait route, which is viewed as such by China.
In the end, China is aware that its backing buys leverage and influence, and that having a healthy influence in Myanmar benefits its interests in natural resources and the balance of power in the South East Asian area. It might also be calculated that it wants to prevent influences from the West and America from dominating. There is no denying, though, that the conflict has hampered China’s aspirations. Infact, although the border crossing in the town of Ruili is a popular tourist destination, there are far less people and goods crossing there now than there formerly were.
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