BEIJING – China has dispatched a team to Myanmar to monitor a ceasefire agreement it brokered between the ruling military junta and a prominent ethnic rebel group, the Chinese foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday, highlighting Beijing’s growing role in efforts to stabilise its conflict-ridden neighbour.
The move underscores China’s deepening involvement in the escalating civil war that has gripped Myanmar since the military overthrew the democratically elected government in 2021. The coup triggered widespread protests, which have since evolved into a full-blown nationwide armed rebellion.
Among the key players in the conflict is the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), an armed group composed largely of ethnic Chinese fighters. In a major escalation late last year, the MNDAA seized control of a significant military base in Lashio, near the Chinese border, as part of a larger offensive by the Three Brotherhood Alliance — a coalition of rebel armies.
Following talks in Kunming earlier this year, China announced that the MNDAA and the junta had reached a ceasefire agreement. Recent reports from Myanmar suggest that some junta officials have since returned to Lashio, with military vehicles observed in the area. However, these reports could not be independently verified.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, speaking at a regular press briefing, confirmed that Beijing is actively facilitating the peace process.
“The two parties appreciate and thank China for its constructive role in safeguarding peace and stability in northern Myanmar,” Guo said.
“Going forward, China will continue to push forward the Kunming peace talks,” he added.
The MNDAA’s agreement with the junta is separate from broader ceasefire negotiations led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has been advocating for a nationwide truce to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The urgency of these efforts has grown since a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar last month, killing over 3,700 people and exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. As Myanmar’s civil conflict expands, China’s increasing diplomatic and on-the-ground presence signals a shift in its traditionally cautious regional posture, especially in border areas with shared ethnic and economic ties.