This content was originally published by Radio Free Asia, and it is now licensed for reprint.
Some civilians were killed when Myanmar’s military bombarded rebels on Wednesday, according to inhabitants, as the rebels continued their offensive on the east coast town of Kyaukpyu.
One of Myanmar’s most prominent rebel groups, the Arakan Army, or AA, has almost succeeded in achieving its goal of overthrowing the junta’s makes that seized power in Rakhine state in 2021.
Residents Nay Soe Khaing, a native of Kyaukpyu, reported to Radio Free Asia,” This morning, the Arakan Army launched big arms at the Dhanyawadi military base, and there was also shooting.”
He claimed that a warrior jet’s fireplace caused the military to fire on civilians and that a bomb went down on them.
Nay Soe Khaing and other people reported that more than 1, 000 citizens had fled the area, and that communication issues were a major factor in this.
RFA contacted AA director Khaing Thu Kha and junta director Hla Thein for details on the condition, but neither of them responded as soon as possible.
In a spectacular advance, the AA, which has the support of the country’s cultural Rohingya Buddhist majority, has taken control of 14 of the state’s 17 townships. It has defeated the military in battle after battle since late 2023.
In the northern part of Ramree Island, about 250 km north of Yangon, is Kyaukpyu, one of the insurgents ‘ final major targets. The area has access to a wealth of sea, oil, and natural resources in addition to its deep-sea port, which is natural.
China wants to use its Belt and Road enhancement strategy to center on a deep-sea slot in the Kyaukpyu exclusive economic zone, or SEZ.
Oil and natural gas are now flowing from the Kyaukpyu stations to Yunnan province in southeastern China, giving China an alternate way for its oil imports in the event of a conflict in the South China Sea.
The government has responded to attacks from the air and naval vessels at ocean since the AA launched their assault on Kyaukpyu on February 20.
Expected violent fights
Another native claimed that significant battle was anticipated.
” The Arakan Army is encircling all the martial camps,” said Tun Kyi. We are aware that the wars will really get going after they surround them. So we can safely say that the struggle to elude Kyaukpyu has begun.
China has tried to resolve in Myanmar’s issue, but it has not commented on the most recent fighting.
According to the Ministry of Information, the coup and the Chinese-owned CITIC Group discussed growth in the Kyaukpyu financial area and the agency’s deep sea port on Friday.
Htein Kyi, a citizen of Kyaukpyu and a close observer of development plans, claimed that considering the security situation, it was impossible to also consider the various business contracts.
It’s simply impossible to carry out such large-scale projects with all the problems and volatility, he said.
According to a report released in January, the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar ( ISP) in Rakhine state revealed that the AA already controls nine of the eleven Chinese development projects.
Although Taiwanese jobs have experienced delays and disruptions in different areas of Myanmar, anti-junta forces have not typically attempted to destroy facilities. In contrast, some organizations have pledged to safeguard Chinese investments and workers.
