In a major blow to Myanmar’s military junta, a top-ranking general was killed in ongoing clashes with the Arakan Army (AA) near the China-backed Kyaukphyu deep-sea port, intensifying fears over the security of Beijing’s strategic investments in Rakhine State.
Fierce fighting erupted near the village of Pyine Si Kha, just 5 kilometers south of Kyaukphyu town, where the AA has reportedly surrounded a key military outpost. According to local media sources, the battle is now dangerously close to Chinese oil and gas terminals, heightening geopolitical tensions.
Brigadier General Kyaw Myo Aung, a strategist from the junta’s 11th Division, was fatally shot by an AA sniper on May 26, alongside a military captain. His body was flown to Yangon for burial at Mingaladon military cemetery. Family members confirmed that he died in the line of duty at age 45.
Despite deploying ground, naval, and air forces to defend Kyaukphyu, the junta appears to be losing control. Reports from The Irrawaddy suggest that Chinese private security forces involved in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects may be aiding the junta through drone operations against the AA — though these claims remain unverified.
Tensions have been escalating since Myanmar’s military rulers passed a law in February allowing Chinese security personnel to carry arms for the protection of investments. Since then, the presence of Chinese operatives in Kyaukphyu has grown steadily. The deep-sea port under construction would provide China a direct link to the Indian Ocean via Yunnan province — a vital strategic corridor.
Local media report that junta-appointed administrators are fleeing Kyaukphyu as the frontlines close in on the town. This area also marks the origin point of China’s crucial oil and gas pipelines, making it a high-stakes battleground.
Since launching its renewed offensive in November 2023, the Arakan Army has seized control of 14 out of 17 townships in Rakhine State and parts of southern Chin State, and now aims to capture the state capital, Sittwe. In response, junta forces have launched deadly airstrikes on AA-held towns and villages, killing scores of civilians.
Notably, the AA has also extended its influence beyond Rakhine this year into central Myanmar, including Magway, Bago, and Ayeyarwady regions — posing a growing threat to the junta’s territorial grip across the country.
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