Myanmar convoy burns on China’s border as its envoy meets for talks.

In what Myanmar’s official media stated on Friday was an insurgent strike, a convoy of trucks delivering commodities into Myanmar from China went up in flames. This incident compounds the growing instability that has prompted concerns in neighboring China.

After recent hints that their relationship has been coming under uncommon strain, the fire in the town of Muse broke out at the same time as a meeting between China’s ambassador to Myanmar and top authorities in the capital of Myanmar to discuss maintaining peace along the border.

“Due to this terrorist act…about 120 out of 258 vehicles carrying household goods, consumer goods, clothes and building materials were destroyed by fire,” the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. The newspaper referred to an opposition alliance that launched an offensive against the Junta one month ago.

A representative for one of the insurgent factions, named Li Kyar Win, denied setting fire to the convoy and stated that his organization did not carry out assaults that would “destroy the interests of the people.”

As the Myanmar military struggles to defend itself against the most concerted onslaught it has seen since seizing power in a coup in 2021, it has lost control of many towns and military installations around the nation, particularly in the northeast and elsewhere.

According to the United Nations, the recent uptick in conflict has resulted in the displacement of more than 2 million people across the country in various sections of the country.

The media has claimed that at least ten people were murdered earlier this week in the town of Laukkai, which, like Muse, is located in Shan State on the border with China. The incident occurred when a rocket hit a car, in which passengers were attempting to leave the fighting.

Both the local Junta and a rebel organization that is active in the region have issued statements condemning the tragedy and denying any role in it.

Reuters could not independently verify the number of those killed in the incident.

The most recent turmoil in Myanmar occurred as China’s ambassador to Myanmar, Chen Hai, was meeting with Myanmar’s military-appointed foreign minister, Than Swe, and other military officials in the country’s capital, Naypyitaw. China has voiced its support for peace and stability in Myanmar.

According to Myanmar state media, they talked about “bilateral relations, continued implementation of mutually beneficial bilateral projects, and cooperation in peace and stability and rule of law along the border.”

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar issued a letter late on Friday night urging Chinese people who were stuck in Laukkai to leave as quickly as they could, citing “high” safety threats as the reason.

AN ATTACK AGAINST CRIME
Before the most recent rebel onslaught, Chinese and Myanmar junta officials had begun a crackdown in the region on gangs running online fraud centers that China holds responsible for defrauding a large number of Chinese citizens.

This month, Myanmar cooperated with that effort by handing over tens of thousands of Chinese citizens suspected of being involved in telecom fraud.

The fighting near the border and the effort against the internet fraud gangs, many of which are organized by Chinese criminals, have brought the neighbors’ relationship to the forefront.

Since it took power in 2021, the military of Myanmar has had China’s assistance. However, Chinese authorities have had, and continue to have, complicated connections across the border with groups in northeast Myanmar that are frequently outside the central government’s authority for years.

The authorities in Myanmar have long held the suspicion that China is intervening in the country and supporting various armed groupings.

Dozens of nationalist protesters gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Yangon, the capital city of Myanmar, over the weekend in a rare assembly in the country since a widespread crackdown on dissent. The demonstrators brought banners and posters critical of Beijing with them to the event.

One of their posters had the following message written in English: “We request that the Chinese government not support northern terrorist groups.”

After some time had passed, a spokesman for the Junta named Zaw Min Tun stated that the protestors were against the rebels. He did not make any reference to their demand that China cease providing help to the insurgents. Still, he did accuse Western media of attempting to undermine Myanmar’s relationship with China.