China has dismissed as
“ill-founded” and “misguided” allegations it sold or delivered weapons
to the about 30,000-strong United Wa State Army in Shan State.
"The Chinese government holds a clear
and consistent policy of respecting the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Myanmar," its embassy here said in a statement issued on
Sunday.
Reports alleging China had sold or
transferred weapons to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar are misguided, it
said. The media reports are based on an erroneous “report by a western
defence think-tank” it said, referring to Janes Intelligence Review,
which released a report last month alleging that China’s effort to arm
the ethnic army was “unprecedented both in the quantity of munitions and
the type of systems delivered”. The report described the alleged arms
deal as “highly likely to have stemmed from a high-level decision made
in Beijing”.
Weapons the Wa Army received included ground-to-air missiles and 12 tank destroyers, the report stated.
The embassy stressed that China had
always given strong support to a peaceful solution to the conflict
within Myanmar through dialogue and negotiation by both sides. “China in
recent days repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and joint
efforts to resume peace and stability along the border area,” it said.
“China has persistently played a
constructive role in promoting peace and facilitating dialogue towards
the resolution of the conflict. We will continue to do so,” the
statement added.
The Janes Intelligence Review report
alleges that a transfer of Chinese-made PTL02 Wheeled Tank Destroyers
was made in the middle of last year. The report’s author, Thailand-based
intelligence analyst Anthony Davis, described this as “a significant
escalation in the equipment supply to the [Wa army]” from China.
Rising support for the ethnic army
coincides with political developments in Myanmar that worry Beijing,
primarily increased openness to diplomatic and military ties with the
United States
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