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Myanmar soldiers bombed the insurgents attacking the cornerstone of China in the country on Wednesday, killing certain civilians, residents said, while the rebels were pursuing an offensive on the canton of the west coast of Kyaukpyu.
The Arakan army, or AA, is one of the most powerful groups of Myanmar insurgents and almost achieved its objective of defeating the forces of the junta which seized the power in 2021 in the whole state from Rakhine.
“This morning, the Arakan army launched heavy weapons at the base of the Navy of Dhanyawadi, and there were also shots,” resident Nay So Khaing told Radio Free Asia, referring to the base of The main navy of Kyaukpyu.
“The soldiers turned fire with a fighter plane and there were civilians killed when the plane dropped a bomb,” he said.
More than 1,000 civilians had fled the region, not Soe Khaing and other residents, adding that civilian victims were difficult to identify because communications were mainly broken.
The FRG has tried to call the spokesman for the AA, Khaing Thu Kha, and the spokesman for Junta Hla Thein to obtain information on the situation, but none responded at the time of publication.
The AA, which supports the Buddhist majority of Etthnique Rakhine, captured 14 of the 17 cantons of the state of Rakhine, defeating the military in combat after the end of 2023 in an amazing advance.
Kyaukpyu, one of the last large targets of insurgents in the state, is on a natural port in the northwest corner of the island of Ramree, about 250 miles northwest of the commercial capital Yangon. In addition to its natural port in the deep sea, the region has access to abundant oil, natural and naval resources.
China provides a port on the high seas in the Special Economic Zone of Kyaukpyu, or ZEs, as a hub for its belt and road development strategy.
Oil and natural gas are already flowing from Kyaukpyu terminals to the province of southern Yunnan China, giving China an alternative route for its oil imports in the event of conflict in the southern China Sea.
The AA launched its push on Kyaukpyu on February 20 and the army responded with air attacks and ships at sea.
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Another resident said major fighting was expected.
“The Arakan army surrounds all military camps,” said Tun Kyi. “After surrounding them, we know that the battles will really intensify. So we can say the battle to capture Kyaukpyu started. »»
China did not comment on the last fights, but he tried to mediate in the Myanmar conflict.
On Friday, the Citic Junta and Chinese group discussed development in the Kyaukpyu economic zone and the Society’s sea port, according to the Ministry of Information.
But Htein Kyi, a resident of Kyaukpyu, who closely monitors development plans, said it was not realistic to reflect even on the various commercial contracts given the security situation.
“With all problems and instability, it is simply impossible to implement such large-scale projects,” he said.
The AA already controls nine of the 11 Chinese development projects in the state of Rakhine, said the Myanmar strategy and policy institute in a report in January.
While Chinese projects have been faced with disturbances and delays in various parts of Myanmar, anti-Junta forces have generally not undertaken to destroy the facilities. On the contrary, some groups have promised to protect Chinese investments and staff.
Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by RFA staff.