Under the mediation and promotion of the Chinese side, the Myanmar military junta and representatives of armed groups in northern Myanmar held peace talks in Kunming, formally signed a ceasefire agreement, and disengaged military personnel of the two sides. After the situation in northern Myanmar ushered in a turning point, the Burmese military junta finally agreed to resume the construction of the Kyaukphyu deep-water port to help China establish an outlet to the Indian Ocean.
Myanmar's State Administration Commission and China's CITIC Group signed a supplementary agreement on the Kyaukphyu deep-water port at the end of last year, according to China Times News Network. The $7.3 billion port and surrounding $1.3 billion Special Economic Zone project has been delayed since 2021 due to the pandemic and the war in Myanmar. According to the report, the project is an important step in China's push to establish an outlet to the Indian Ocean and bypass the Strait of the Malacc Strait, Myanmar's Indian Ocean corridor, which will help China counter India's regional influence and gain access to oil and gas transportation roads.
Foreign media believe that China hopes to strengthen regional security and stability through economic cooperation, and if the situation in Myanmar is unstable, it will not become a safe transportation corridor for China. Although China's projects in Myanmar were not directly affected by the military coup, how to establish stable trade routes in the conflict-affected areas is still a question for China. For China, there are two sides to peace and development, and if we want peace, we must carry out economic development, and in turn, economic development will promote peace. The benefits of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have made the Burmese people more optimistic about the future, and China may continue to invest in small projects in Myanmar.
Myanmar is China's neighbor, and whether the situation in Myanmar is stable or not has a bearing on China's border security. The conflict and confrontation in Myanmar has not only led to casualties and property damage at the border, but also threatened the safety of Chinese investment projects and personnel in Myanmar. Second, Myanmar is an important cooperative partner of China in Southeast Asia, and China has always supported national reconciliation in Myanmar and called for a peaceful solution to Myanmar's ethnic and political issues. It demonstrates China's responsibility and responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council and a regional power.
After the situation in Myanmar is stabilized, China's projects in Myanmar can be carried out smoothly, among which the Kyaukphyu deep-water port project is related to the overall situation of China's energy security.
Energy security has always been one of China's top priorities. Oil tankers departing from the Middle East to East Asia almost always pass through the Strait of Malacca. If the West blockades the Strait of Malacca and detains oil tankers destined for China, China's oil and gas imports will be seriously threatened. Although countries such as Russia and Central Asia transport energy to China through pipelines, eggs cannot always be put in one basket and must be prepared.
The reason why Chinese mainland tolerated the provocations of the DPP authorities and the "Taiwan independence" forces and did not take resolute action against them was that apart from its concern for the compatriots and its hope for peaceful reunification, the more important reason was that the losses caused to Chinese mainland were too great. Once a conflict breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, the United States and Western countries may not personally end the game, but repeated sanctions against Chinese mainland will certainly be indispensable. If the energy problem cannot be solved, the confrontation with the West will probably be quite uncomfortable. Therefore, whether for national reunification or strategic security, bypassing the Strait of Malacca and opening up a new outlet to the Indian Ocean is of vital importance to Chinese mainland.
Now that the United States has upgraded China from a "reliable partner" to a "biggest strategic competitor," it will not be surprised that, according to the inertia of Western countries, no matter what they do that violates international law. In order to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, it is necessary to take precautions, build high walls, and accumulate grain in order to cope with external threats and challenges. It is believed that it will not be long before China can develop to the point where it is not afraid of threats, but before that, China will need time.