November 24, 2023
2 mins read

Myanmar-China Trade Hit By Conflict

Since the start of a major anti-junta offensive late last month in Myanmar, border crossings in northern Shan State to China, including Muse and Chin She Haw, have been closed….reports Asian Lite News

Myanmar is particularly worried about the conflict in neighbouring northern Shan State that has created problems for Mandalay-based traders, who are now dependent on Mongla, a town lying on the Myanmar-China border. The town is controlled by the ethnic armed group, the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), reported Myanmar Now.

Since the start of a major anti-junta offensive late last month in Myanmar, border crossings in northern Shan State to China, including Muse and Chin She Haw, have been closed.

After Yangon, Mandalay is Myanmar’s second-largest city and has left Mandalay-based traders with no option but to use the Mongla gateway into China, which they say is not an ideal situation, according to Myanmar Now.

“The road is not straight; it has a lot of twists and turns and hills. It’s actually quite dangerous for the driver and it takes at least 10 days to make the trip from Mandalay to Mongla,” said a woman who exports watermelons to China.

“But we have no other choice,” she added.

In addition to the long journey to the border, shipping goods taken through the Mongla area means paying higher taxes.

It now costs a total of 12,000 yuan (1.4 lakhs) to send a 12-wheeled truck with a load of watermelons from Mandalay to China, she said.

In response to the emerging concerns of traders, the NDAA announced last week that taxes on exports of goods travelling through the NDAA-controlled gate would be cut in half.

Other traders in Mandalay say they have also reluctantly switched to using Mongla as their main transport route since the junta announced on November 8 that the Muse and Chin Shwe Haw border gates had been closed, reported Myanmar Now.

“The majority of us in Mandalay have started [using Mongla], but only as a last resort,” said one trader.

Due to the instability of the February 2021 military coup, border trade, worth billions of dollars to Myanmar each year, has almost entirely halted, with Thailand being the only state with significant volumes of trade.

The NDAA is not directly involved in the current northern Shan State conflict, although it is closely allied to the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, one of three members of the Brotherhood Alliance that launched Operation 1027 against the regime on October 27.

The NDAA has seen tensions with Myanmar’s military in the past after it refused to transform itself into a Border Guard Force under military command ahead of elections held in 2010.

The highway from Kengtung to Mongla was closed prior to the coup due to tensions with the United Wa State Army, but was reopened by the regime in late 2021, reported Myanmar Now. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Indian Envoy, Maldives FM Explore ‘Special Partnership’

Previous Story

Myanmar Refugees Find Comfort in Mizoram, Long for Home

Next Story

Philippines Enlisted ‘Foreign Forces’ For SCS Patrol: China

Latest from -Top News

Singapore’s Ruling Party Achieves Landslide Victory

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, whose party won the election, thanked supporters.,..reports Asian Lite News Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) won 87 of the 97 seats in Parliament in Saturday’s general election,

Jaishankar, Lavrov Discuss Pahalgam Terror Attack

Both the Ministers discussed issues of Russian-Indian cooperation and the aggravation of India-Pakistan relations following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar spoke to the Russian Foreign Minister

Ukrainian forces to join VE  procession  

Ukrainian personnel will join around 1,000 UK armed forces members, including soldiers on horseback and military bands, to symbolise “the global support for their continued fight for freedom” against Russia  krainian armed

Rajnath Singh to skip Russia visit

The decision comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir…reports Asian Lite News Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will not likely attend Russia’s

WAVES 2025: Jaishankar Advocates Cultural Pluralism

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a powerful address at the WAVES 2025 Global Media Dialogue, highlighting the significance of cultural pluralism in shaping global change. Speaking on the second day of
Go toTop

Don't Miss

QUAD concerned over China’s moves in Kiribati

Since World War II, Kiribati has allied with western powers,

US govt to announce diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics

The move will allow the US to send a message