Description: Militants pertaining to the China – sponsored United WA State Army (UWSA) have reportedly gained enlarged access to a key rare earth minerals mine in the northwestern Shan State of the war – thorn Myanmar. Chinese companies have been active in the Kachin province where recent conflicts between armed groups and Myanmar’s junta – led government have escalated, where two mines were reportedly closed due to operational difficulties. Myanmar’s obscure business records enable privately and state – sponsored militant groups to exert control over the mining operations supplying China with access to crucial rare earth mineral deposits. UWSA has around 30 to 35 thousand militants under its command and is increasingly spreading operations in the northwestern parts of the country. Mining research centers have stated that the belt around Shan State, Kachin and Laos has several large mines with unexplored rare earth mineral potential which could be crucial to China in the ongoing trade negotiations with the US.
Impact: Chinese involvement in the ongoing civil war in Myanmar through state – sponsored militant groups underscores the importance of the rare earth elements in present day global economy. Myanmar is crucial to China’s monopolized position on the rare earth elements market as most of the crucial materials such as dysprosium and terbium have been extracted from Myanmar’s capacities fueling Chinese dominion over the global market of rare earths. The last round of US – China trade talks led to an intermediate ceasefire which is yet to be confirmed by official Chinese sources, as China aims at strengthening its bargaining power through further access towards unexplored rare earth element deposits. Chinese influence in the Myanmar civil war would further aggravate and prolong the conflict as the state – sponsored militant groups would focus on protecting Chinese economic interests.