In Myanmar, a land of multi-ethnic strife, some areas have found their way to survive and thrive in the midst of chaos. How did Xiao Mongla, a mysterious place with a very different fate from the Kokang region, become a prosperous oasis in northern Myanmar?
When it comes to Myanmar, many people's first impression may be stuck on "civil war" and "drugs". Indeed, the history of Myanmar is a complex epic of interweaving countless ethnic groups, warlords, and foreign powers. Among them, the two regions of Kokang and Xiaomengla were two highlights in this epic, but the directions are very different.
Looking back at the long river of history, Kokang was once part of the British colony, and it became a battlefield during the Japanese invasion of Southeast Asia. And after World War II, with the independence of Myanmar, Kokang became part of the Union of Myanmar. However, the long-term ethnic contradictions and political turmoil have caused constant war in the Kokang region all year round. In 2009, after a series of fierce military operations, the Burmese army finally defeated the "Kokang King" Peng Jiasheng and declared official control of the Kokang region. Stability in the region did not follow, but guerrilla warfare and ethnic conflicts.
With this, Xiao Mengla has taken a different path. This region, also located in northern Myanmar, has an equally long history and was once part of China. Unlike Kokang, after the 90s, Xiao Mengla gradually got rid of the shadow of chaos and drugs, and began to look for a new path of development.
Xiao Mengla's transformation is inseparable from a key person, Lin Mingxian. This was originally an ordinary citizen of Wenchang, Hainan, China, but due to various opportunities, he came to northern Myanmar and gradually rose to the leadership of Xiaomengla. Lim Ming-hsien's political wisdom lies in particular in how he handles internal and external relationships. He is well aware that as a multi-ethnic region, internal stability is of paramount importance. He not only reused overseas Chinese, but also recruited elites of various nationalities into the management team more broadly, striving to create a pluralistic and harmonious political environment.
More importantly, Lin Mingxian understands that in the big chess game of Myanmar, Xiao Mengla must keep a low profile. Despite its geographical location and resources, it has not only avoided a head-on confrontation with the Burmese government, but has even gained a degree of autonomy through the constant balancing of forces and the subtle cooperation with the Burmese government. This strategy has made Xiaomengla a relatively stable safe haven in the chaotic situation in northern Myanmar. With this, Xiao Mengla also took advantage of its special geographical and political location to develop into a center of trade and logistics, attracting a large amount of investment and commercial activities, and gradually prospering economically.
In dealing with external relations, Lin Mingxian also showed superb diplomatic strategy. He not only maintained good relations with neighboring China, but also enhanced Xiaomengla's international status through various international business cooperation. These initiatives have not only brought economic benefits to the small region, but more importantly, have also won more voice and autonomy for the small region politically.
Little Mongla's success did not come without a price. The rapid development of this region has also brought a series of social problems, including environmental pollution and social inequality. Nonetheless, compared to the ongoing turmoil in the Kokang region, the prosperity of Xiaomongla at least partly demonstrates a possible model of peace and development.
Behind this contrast is the different strategies and fates of Myanmar's various regions in dealing with internal and external relations. Although the Kokang region showed great viability in the early struggles, the prolonged war and isolation from the outside world eventually led to economic and social stagnation. Through more flexible diplomacy and an open attitude, Xiao Mengla has found a path suitable for its own development.
Little Mongla is a bright spot in the troubled times of Myanmar. It is not only an example of how a region can seek self-protection and development in the midst of turmoil, but also a reflection on how to maintain its own characteristics and achieve a balance and win-win situation with the outside world through wisdom and strategy in a changing world. Sometimes, as Mongla shows, it is in the most unlikely circumstances that the most extraordinary achievements are born.