Armed Ethnic Force Issues Threats, China Asks Myanmar Military Regime To Guarantee Its Oil And Gas Pipeline Security

JAKARTA - China has requested a meeting with the Myanmar military regime regarding growing concerns for its twin oil and natural gas pipeline project, as well as asking for protection guarantees.

This is not the first time. At the end of February, China also sent the Director-General of the Department of External Security Affairs under the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bai Tian, to ask for guarantees of the safety of its oil and gas pipelines.

This request was reiterated by China after armed ethnic in northern Shan State warned the Myanmar military regime that it would continue hostilities if the brutal killings of anti-coup protesters continued.

Sources in Naypyitaw have confirmed to The Irrawaddy that a number of Chinese officials continue to pressure the Myanmar military regime to strengthen security measures for the twin pipelines, especially in northern Shan State, where clashes with armed ethnic groups are likely to occur frequently.

It is known that the project is nearly 800 kilometers long, consisting of a twin pipeline that runs parallel from the port of Kyaukphyu in Rakhine State on the Bay of Bengal through the Magwe and Mandalay regions and northern Shan State before entering China.

The agreement for the project was signed under the military regime in 2008. The crude oil pipeline is designed to transport 22 million tonnes per year. Meanwhile, the natural gas pipeline is designed to carry 12 billion cubic meters of gas.

Recent warnings from three armed ethnic groups that they are considering resuming fighting and joining anti-coup protesters are seen as jeopardizing Beijing's interests, including a pipeline.

Anti-Chinese sentiment has grown in Myanmar since the coup, with many suspecting Beijing of supporting the military. China has repeatedly blocked attempts at the UN Security Council to take action against Myanmar's coup leaders. Anti-coup protesters have not only urged a boycott of all products made in China, but have also called for the targeting of Chinese investment projects in Myanmar.

Among the large number of projects supported by China, the oil and gas pipeline project has been in the spotlight, as it is the largest in the country and has been a source of controversy since 2013, provoking contention between affected communities and the environmental organization.

China warned that damage to their pipeline would cause huge losses to both countries and undermine confidence among foreign investors.

The China Global Times last month said Myanmar protesters were responsible for the attack that damaged 32 Chinese-backed factories in Yangon's Hlaingtharyar Industrial Zone. However, the protesters denied the allegations, saying the attack was a plot by the military to justify a tougher crackdown on protesters.

As previously reported, a document containing the meeting between the Chinese envoy and the Myanmar military regime on February 24 was leaked to the public. In the document, it was stated that China asked the Myanmar military to provide better security, as well as intelligence (data) on ethnic minority armed groups in the oil and natural gas pipeline belonging to China that crosses Myanmar.

"Safeguarding the security of bilateral cooperation projects is a shared responsibility of both China and Myanmar. This will also benefit the safe operation of the bilateral cooperation project," China's Foreign Ministry said in response to a question about the document.

The oil and gas pipeline is a symbolic project of cooperation between China and Myanmar which was opened in 2013. With a value of 1.5 billion US dollars (US), this project stretches for 770 kilometers to flow crude oil, especially from the Middle East.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in that one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.