China’s foreign minister makes rare visit to Myanmar border

On Tuesday, China’s foreign minister visited Myanmar and called for stability and a crackdown on cross-border crime.

The 2,129-kilometer (1,323-mile) border between China and the “Golden Triangle”—Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand—is known for drug smuggling.

Since the military took power in 2021, opium output in Myanmar has increased by a third as eradication operations have slowed and the economy has worsened, according to the UN.

Foreign Minister Qin Gang stated local Communist Party and government departments, the People’s Liberation Army, police, and civilian groups should “strengthen the border defense system” during his visit.

Qin suggested “maintaining distinct and stable borders, and severely cracking down on cross-border criminal activities.”

“Border management, border trade development, and bilateral relations must be coordinated,” he said in a ministry news release.
Refugees and mortar fire from Myanmar’s military and ethnic armed groups have recently entered China.

China has maintained contacts with all sides, but it has been condemned for voicing unequivocal support for the junta after saying it will defend Myanmar “no matter how the situation changes.”

Since the army overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, Myanmar has been violent. Security forces violently suppressed huge public opposition to the takeover, sparking widespread armed resistance.

Despite security concerns, China has encouraged legal trade between the sides and recently reopened border crossings after more than 1,000 days of closure due to COVID-19 control measures.

The Foreign Ministry said Qin proposed a China-Myanmar commercial corridor at the Wanding-Ruili crossing point to boost commerce and development on both sides.