The New Flare Up in Myanmar

Relevance: GS2- India and its neighborhood- relations. Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

(Source: Indian Express, 11/18/2023)

Click here for Daily Current Affairs

Why in the news?

• Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Chin State, near India's border in Mizoram.

What is the ongoing conflict exactly?

• On October 27,2023, Offensive surprise operations were carried out by anti-military rebel forces in the areas of Shan state of North Myanmar. This was named Operation 1027.
• Rebel group initiating the attacks was the Three Brotherhood Alliance comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army, and Arakan Army.
• Attacks were carried out on several police posts and Chinshwehaw, which lies on the China-Myanmar border, which is an important trade point and source of revenue for the Myanmar junta.

Current developments:

• Operation 1027
  • Initiated on October 27 by the Three Brotherhood Alliance (MNDAA, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and Arakan Army) in Shan State, North Myanmar.
  • Seized control of crucial border towns and checkpoints, including Chinshwehaw, which is a critical point on the China-Myanmar border trade route, and a significant revenue source for the junta.
  • Rebels advancing towards Laukkai, the capital of Shan state’s Kokang region, active for more than three decades.
• Local resistance forces leading conflicts in various parts of Myanmar:
  • Rakhine State in West Myanmar.
  • Kayin State in South-East Myanmar.
  • Sagaing region in North West Myanmar bordering Manipur.
  • Chin State in West Myanmar bordering Mizoram.

How current development is different from earlier:

• Unprecedented coordination among the Three Brotherhood Alliance (MNDAA, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and Arakan Army), led to successful operations and the capture of extensive territory.
• Economic impact: Rebels' capture of crucial border towns, including Chinshwehaw on the China-Myanmar border trade route, directly impacts the junta's revenue.
• Widespread fighting in various regions, including Rakhine, Kayin, Sagaing, and Chin States, challenges the junta's authority on multiple fronts from the earlier localized conflicts.
• Infuriated China: An incident on October 20, where guards at a Kokang Border Guard Force (BGF) compound killed multiple Chinese and Thai individuals, allegedly including undercover Chinese police, led to China's strong disapproval and anger.
• Weakening position of Myanmar military:With failure to control the rebellion despite prolonged fights including air strikes, military and police personnels are allegedly surrendering to the Chin rebel groups.

India-Myanmar relation:

• Geopolitical Crossroads:
  • It is the only Southeast Asian country sharing both a land border (1,624 km) with northeastern India and a maritime boundary (725 km) in the Bay of Bengal.
• India’s foreign policy goals:
  • Myanmar, being the intersection of India's "Neighborhood First" and "Look East" policies, serves as a crucial element in India's regional diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific.
• Land Bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia:
  • Myanmar acts as a land bridge, connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia, contributing to regional connectivity and engagement.
• India’s Soft power:
  • "5 B's" - Buddhism, Business, Bollywood, Bharatnatyam, and Burma teak often indicative of India-Myanmar relations.
• Countering cheque book diplomacy of China:
  • Development of Sittwe port in Rakhine state as part of India’s SAGAR vision.
  • This further extends to Kaladan Multimodal project connecting Kolkata port with Myanmar’s Sittwe Port by sea, Sittwe to Paletwa via river Kaladan, Paletwa to the border of India, and Myanmar via road and further ahead to Lawngtlai, Mizoram by road.
• International groupings:
  • Recognizing its significance, Myanmar was granted observer status in SAARC in August 2008.
  • Myanmar is also important to India's strategy in BIMSTEC, ASEAN, and Mekong Ganga Cooperation.
• Defence cooperation:
  • India-Myanmar Bilateral Army Exercise (IMBAX) enhances military relations.
  • India-Myanmar also carry out collaborative efforts to address insurgency in India's northeast, emphasizing regional security.

Impact of recent conflict on India:

• Delicate Diplomacy:
  • India maintains a delicate balance, expressing concern for the democratic interruption in Myanmar while engaging with the junta to protect vital interests.
  • It poses a challenge to India’s Look East policy.
• Refugee Influx:
  • An immediate concern for India is the influx of Myanmarese nationals into Northeast border states, especially Mizoram, amid ongoing volatility in Manipur.
• Border Towns Capture:
  • Anti-junta forces capturing key towns near the only two border crossing points with India, namely Rikhawdar in Mizoram and Khampat in Sagaing, raises security concerns and impacts regional stability.
• Strategic Infrastructure:
  • The capture of Khampat, located around 60 km from Moreh in Manipur, is significant as it is part of the proposed India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway project, affecting India's strategic infrastructure plans.

Conclusion:

• The recent flare-up in Myanmar, marked by Operation 1027 and unprecedented coordination among rebel groups, poses significant challenges for the junta and has direct implications for India's diplomatic, security, and strategic interests. China's disapproval further complicates the dynamics. It poses a challenge not only for India but for the whole global geopolitics.

(*Click this link to read prelims specific weekly current affairs articles)

FAQs

MCQs

Question: Consider the following pairs Community sometimes in the affairs of mentioned in the news :

1. Kurd : Bangladesh
2. Madhesi : Nepal
3. Rohingya : Myanmar

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? (UPSC CSE 2016)

(a) Only 1 and 2

(b) Only 2

(c) Only 2 and 3

(d) Only 3