Military sources in Naypyidaw have confirmed that the military council has submitted a proposal to the Chinese government requesting assistance in regaining control of the Muse 105-Mile Trade Gate, which is currently under the control of the Northern Alliance forces including the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and Arakan Army (AA) in northern Shan State.
In mid-August, the military council proposed to the Chinese government to help facilitate the reopening of bilateral trade routes and maintain stability in the border region. The proposal officially requested China’s assistance in recovering the Muse 105-Mile Trade Zone, which is crucial for China-Myanmar border trade, from the Northern Alliance forces. Military sources indicate that without regaining control of the trade gate, it would be difficult to resume bilateral trade operations, and this situation could potentially destabilize the border region and hinder economic relations between the two countries.
Currently, the military council has not reopened the China-Myanmar border trade route and continues to conduct planned seizures of goods entering from China. During his visit to China on August 31, military council leader Min Aung Hlaing disclosed that the instability in the border region has affected the economy of China’s Yunnan Province. He noted that out of the over $3.2 billion in border trade between China and Myanmar during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the Muse-Ruili border gate alone accounted for more than $2 billion in goods flow. During his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on August 30, Min Aung Hlaing expressed gratitude for China’s pressure on armed groups in the border region, claiming it has contributed to stability in northern Myanmar.
