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Myanmar’s changing ties with China
ChinaDiplomacy

China brokers Myanmar ceasefire, urges junta and rebel militia to ‘exercise maximum restraint’

  • ‘The two sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire’, Chinese foreign ministry says, while pledging continued ‘constructive role’ from Beijing
  • Junta and rebel Three Brotherhood Alliance held two days of talks in Chinese city of Kunming, ministry spokeswoman reveals

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A member of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army rebel group stands guard in a temple area of a hill camp seized from the Myanmar military in northern Shan state. Photo: AFP
Laura Zhou
Beijing announced on Friday that it had mediated a formal ceasefire in northern Myanmar, in China’s latest show of influence in the war-ridden neighbouring country.
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The ceasefire agreement between the Myanmar junta and a coalition of ethnic militias was reached after a series of meetings in Kunming, the Chinese foreign ministry said. The city is the capital of China’s southwestern Yunnan province bordering Myanmar.

Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said representatives of Myanmar’s military government and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army took part in the negotiations over Wednesday and Thursday. The rebel groups are together also known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance.

“The two sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire, … to disengage military personnel, to resolve relevant disputes and claims through peaceful negotiations, to commit themselves not to jeopardise the safety of the people in the Chinese border and personnel in the Chinese projects in Myanmar,” Mao said.

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Mao urged the two sides to “earnestly implement the ceasefire agreement reached, exercise maximum restraint, continue to resolve the issues through dialogue and consultation, and jointly promote progress in the peace process in northern Myanmar”.

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