China-India are active in protecting their interests in Myanmar amidst the civil war
Last Updated on January 24, 2025 6:29 am
In several regions of Myanmar, including Chin, Shan, and Rakhine, the junta forces are engaged in a massive battle with rebel groups. The rebel groups have recently shown considerable success in this battle. Especially in Rakhine, the control and influence of the rebel Arakan Army (AA) in the strategically important Bay of Bengal coastal region is increasing day by day.
In such a situation, China and India are competing to protect their respective interests in Myanmar, especially in the mineral-rich Rakhine state. According to a report by local media The Irrawaddy, China is rapidly advancing a special economic zone called the Kyaw Phyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and a deep seaport project in Rakhine state.
The Myanmar military government held a meeting with members of the central executive team of the special economic zone in the capital Naypyidaw on January 14 regarding these two projects. At the meeting, the junta’s Minister of Investment Kan Zaw Kyaw Phyu called for the speedy completion of the project through coordination between the SEZ Consortium Company Limited, the Chinese state-owned CITIC Consortium and the junta ministries.
Two days later, Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Abhay Thakur and a delegation from Indian Global Limited visited Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine. They reviewed the activities of the Sittwe port, which is being built under the Indian-funded Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Corridor project. According to the Indian Embassy, the Sittwe port, which is scheduled to open in May 2023, is one of the largest projects being implemented by India.
The Indian ambassador spent the night in the city despite the fighting around Sittwe. Except for three towns – Sittwe, Kyaw Phyu and Ramri – the remaining 14 townships in Rakhine are under the control of the Arakan Army.
Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur met the junta-appointed Chief Minister of Rakhine State, Thein Lam. During the meeting, they discussed the strategic importance of Sittwe port and termed it as an ‘India-Myanmar Friendship Project’. He said the project will play a significant role in coastal, regional and international connectivity and tourism development.
The Kaladan project is one of the important fruits of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ to counter Chinese influence in Myanmar through the Belt and Road Initiative. The Kyakphyu projects are part of the planned 1,700-km-long China-Myanmar Economic Corridor that will connect a vast region from Kunming in China’s Yunnan province to the Indian Ocean.
In contrast, the Kaladan project aims to establish a sea link from Kolkata to Sittwe port. Then from Sittwe, it will connect to Paletwa in Myanmar’s Chin state via the Kaladan River and from there to the Indian state of Mizoram by road.
The project, which was started 12 years ago, was taken up to create an alternative route to the landlocked northeastern region of India. The project was supposed to be completed in 2023, but the ongoing conflict in Rakhine and Chin states has stalled that plan.
Paletwa is now under the control of the Arakan Army. Not only that, the group has also captured the important towns of Pyay, Kyaw, Mrauk-U, Minbea and Maybon on the banks of the Kaladan River. In this situation, analysts believe that the recent visit of the Indian ambassador to a conflict zone like Sittwe indicates India’s strong position in competition with China.