Introduction

The United Wa State Party issued a statement on 29 July 2024, confirming their decision to adopt a neutral policy of non-involvement in military conflicts of any organization and not to foment war, based on their historical experiences and lessons, taking into account the interests of all ethnic groups within the “Wa” State following the military coup. They also stated that this stance will not change under any circumstances.

The United Wa State Party has neither publicly rejected nor officially supported the military coup led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. They have held informal meetings with the military junta as well as talks with ethnic armed resistance forces. Since the launch of ‘Operation 1027’ on 27 October 2023, the activities of the United Wa State Party (UWSP) and the United Wa State Army (UWSA) have been observed more frequently within the Spring Revolution circle.

This week, Burma News International – BNI – Myanmar Peace Monitor’s bi-weekly news review takes a closer look at the UWSP/UWSA’s neutral stance and examines the key actions they have taken, based on facts and events.

UWSP’s Stance

The UWSP believes that if the military conflicts in Myanmar continue, divisions between ethnic groups will deepen, mutual resentment will increase, and psychological impacts will arise that are more difficult to remedy and last longer than the military conflicts themselves.

The UWSP has urged the warring parties not to ignore the people’s desire for peace while claiming to represent them, and not to disregard the people’s interests for their own benefit. They encourage resolving issues through various peaceful means, including dialogue, to ensure economic recovery for populations severely affected by the conflicts and the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes with security guarantees. 1

The statement issued on 29 July 2024 also mentions that the current situation in Myanmar has reached a point where the entire country is at risk of collapse due to armed conflicts. The economic crisis, halt in production, suspension of trade, and severe damage to various businesses have pushed the population’s living conditions to a state of despair. According to the statement, the ethnic population hopes that the fighting will stop as soon as possible.

UWSP/UWSA’s actions after Operation 1027

On 1 November 2023, five days after the launch of “Operation 1027”, the UWSP announced that they would protect the territorial security and the lives and property of the civilian population in the “Wa” region without exception. They stated that they would respond to any military incursion into their territory and airspace. They also maintained their neutrality and called on all parties to agree to a ceasefire as soon as possible and resolve the issues. 2

However, Nyi Rang, the UWSP’s external relations officer, said that from the first day of “Operation 1027”, they had been helping over 5,000 locals displaced from Chinshwehaw and Laukkaing in Namtit town, a “Wa” territory southeast of Chinshwehaw.

On 5 January 2024, when the Three Brotherhood Alliance (3BHA) and allied forces took control of the towns of Hopang and Panlong in northern Shan State, UWSA troops entered downtown Hopang in the afternoon and raised their flags. 3 On 10 January, the military junta then handed over these two towns to the UWSP as UWSA-controlled territory. 4

Following the collapse of the Chinese-brokered Haigeng Agree-ment in northern Shan State, the second round of “Operation 1027” began on 25 June 2024. Fifteen days later, on 10 July, more than 2,000 UWSA troops crossed to the west bank of the Salween River and reinforced their position in the non-military area of Tangyan. Some of the troops continued towards Lashio. 5 The UWSP/UWSA has been carrying out reconstruction work in Mong Kyat village tract, Lashio Township, which was captured by the 3BHA. They began building a 48-foot-wide road from the Salween River to Mong Kyat village in early March 2024. The military junta’s strategic hilltop post in the village, crucial for the defence of Lashio, had been captured by the 3BHA on 23 November 2023. 6

On 25 July 2024, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA- Kokang Army) and allied forces captured Lashio town. On 27 July, the UWSA troops entered Lashio. While the UWSA claimed they entered to protect their liaison office and property, and at the request of various ethnic groups in Lashio, reports indicated that on the afternoon of 30 July, UWSA troops evacuated more than 120 people, including the Lashio prison warden, staff, and their families, to Mongyai in three military vehicles.

Regarding the entry of ‘Wa’ troops into Lashio, the military junta’s spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun stated that ‘there was advance notification’ from them.

Furthermore, on 30 July, the junta’s reinforcement convoys from Kyethi and Mongkaing towns were ambushed between Man Pang and Ho Nar villages in Lashio Township while en route to Lashio, which is under the control of the MNDAA and allied forces. Reportedly, the junta vehicles that were ambushed by the MNDAA and allied forces did not continue towards Lashio but instead drove to Tangyan Township, which is controlled by the UWSP/UWSA, to monitor the situation. 7

Is there a connection between the UWSP/UWSA’s position and that of the Chinese government?

The UWSP statement dated 29 July 2024 was released four days after the regular press briefing by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ms. Mao Ning.

At the press briefing in Beijing on 25 July, Ms. Mao Ning responded to a Reuters question about the capture of Lashio: “China is closely monitoring the situation in northern Myanmar. We will urge relevant organizations in Myanmar to engage in dialogue and negotiations and find solutions, cease hostilities as soon as possible, resolve disputes through peaceful means, and above all, ensure that China’s security is not affected. We also aim to ensure the safety of people living in and around the border area, as well as protect Chinese projects, businesses, and staff in Myanmar from harm. China will continue to promote the peace talks and encourage maintaining the momentum of the ceasefire and peace negotiations in northern Myanmar.” 8

Although the UWSP statement does not mention China or the Chinese government, its interest-based approach to resolving military conflicts does not show much divergence from China’s stance when it states that “the ‘Wa’ State will continue to work for peace in Myanmar with its own strength.”

The Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), in which the UWSP/UWSA plays a leading political role, has already issued a statement welcoming the Chinese government’s mediation efforts to resolve conflicts and bring peace to Myanmar. The FPNCC includes the Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA); Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA); National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS); Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party/Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNTJP/MNDAA); United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA); and Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).

Review

During the Spring Revolution period, which aims to end the military dictatorship and establish a federal democratic union, all revolutionary forces, including the National Unity Government (NUG), desire the involvement and participation of the UWSP/UWSA. Meanwhile, the military junta led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is attempting to obstruct the moves of the UWSP/UWSA by any means possible.

The UWSP/UWSA continues to maintain a policy of neutrality. However, they have been observed pre-emptively preventing military conflicts, including activities of allied resistance forces, in areas under their control and adjacent regions. They have neither rejected nor publicly supported “Operation 1027” by the Three Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State.

After the coup attempt, the junta, failing in military, political, international affairs and public support, agreed in principle to the UWSP/UWSA’s desire for a “Wa State”. They officially handed over Hopang and Panlong, two towns lost during “Operation 1027 “, to the UWSP/UWSA. Similarly, the military junta has allowed the UWSP/UWSA to take over the administration and security matters of Tanyan town. The neutral policy of the UWSP/UWSA’s has enabled them to capture and control these three towns and their connected areas during the coup period.

From this, it can be concluded that the actions taken by the UWSP/UWSA through its neutral policy after the military coup aim to balance the stance of the neighbouring Chinese government, the incentives of the military junta, and the activities of allied ethnic armed resistance forces. This approach seeks to maintain their original position and realize future aspirations, involving careful advances and retreats, as well as shifts in position.

1 UWSP statement on situation in Myanmar, 30 July 2024
2 UWSA announces it will respond in event of military incursion into its territory, Shan Herald, 1 November 2023
3 Wa Army takes control of Hopang, raises flag, Shan Herald, 5 January 2024
4 3BHA-captured Hopang and Panglong handed over to UWSA, Shan Herald, 11 January 2024
5 Thousands of Wa troops arrive in Tangyan, non-military area, Shan Herald, 11 July 2024
6 UWSA builds road to 3BHA-controlled Mong Kyat area in Lashio Township , Shan Herald, 25 March 2024
7 Junta convoy to reinforce troops in Lashio attacked, casualties reported, RFA, 1 August 2024
8 Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference, 25 July 2024