China’s JACKPOT under threat in Myanmar due to…, Beijing threatens rebels, says will stop…; the treasure is…
Myanmar civil war: In a major worry for China, a deadly civil war is raging near the Chinese border in Bhamo in Myanmar as rebel forces led by the Kachin Independence Army are embroiled in a blood battle with the Myanmar junta army, which is backed by Beijing, since December last year.
What triggered the Myanmar civil war?
The Myanmar civil war was triggered after the 2021 military coup, but has witnessed fierce escalation since December 2024 as armed rebels, especially the Kachin Independence Army, launched a massive campaign, capturing several key areas from the Myanmar army and inflicting heavy losses on the military junta.
Since December, the rebel forces have been battling the army in an effort to retake Bhamo in Myanmar’s northernmost Kachin State, which lies barely 100 km from the Chinese border. The Myanmar army is backed by Beijing.
Why China is concerned?
The primary concern for China stems from Kachin’s vast reserves of rare earth minerals, which could be affected if rebels capture Bhamo and other key areas in the region. According to estimates, about half of the world’s heavy rare earth minerals are extracted from Myanmar’s Kachin State, including in Northern Bhamo, a stronghold of the Myanmar Army.
China is the global leader in processing of heavy rare earth metals, and a major chunk of its unprocessed rare earth supply comes from Kachin, which has come under threat due to the Myanmar civil war.
Rare earth metals have a wide range of uses in industrial, defense and strategic areas, ranging from motors for electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, to bulletproof armor and radar systems. In wake of the crisis, China has issued a warning to Myanmar’s rebels that it will halt the purchase of rare earth metals if they try to capture the entire Bhamo region.
How China is trying to bait Kachin Independence Army?
According to experts, China has weaponised its rare earth monopoly to achieve its geopolitical goals, halting rare earth exports to the United States and India, its two major rivals. Beijing has supported the Myanmar army junta, pushing for ceasefire and peace in the region, saying that it is in the best interest of all affected parties– the army, China, and the rebels.
Additionally, China is trying to lure the Kachin Army rebels, offering more trade from the border they control, if they withdraw from, Bhamo, a key logistics hub for the Myanmar Army with a population of nearly 1.66 lakh people. The rebel group has rejected China’s deal, saying that it will not accept other exports including rare earth from the Kachin state.
Experts believe China does not actually want the Myanmar civil war to end, but wants the fighting to be reduced to levels where its economic interests, particularly the export of rare earth minerals, are not affected.
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