Shine Bu Chay Chinese workers are also being used for security in Kyaukphyu
BBM-July 6
News-Naing Naing
Top Chinese project leaders and the military junta’s Kyaukphyu District Commanders visited the site of the Special Economic Zone and Deep-Seaport Project on Made Island in Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State, where Chinese projects are located, to inspect the completion status of the projects.
On July 3, the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone and Deep-Seaport Projects were investigated, with the main focus being on the current status of completion, the working conditions of workers, and the security situation, according to Made Island residents.
“The top Chinese project leaders and the district commanders of the military junta are right there.The main reason is that they came to see the progress of the project and the safety of the personnel because there was fighting in Kyaukphyu,” said a resident of Made Island who is close to the Kyaukphyu Deep Seaport Project.
It is reported that the military junta has taken full security measures at the project sites during the visit of top Chinese leaders and the Kyaukphyu Division Commander to inspect the Deep Seaport Project.
A Kyaukphyu resident said that despite the intense fighting between the military junta and the Arakan Army (AA) near the Police Battalion (32), which is currently 4 miles from Kyaukphyu, China and the military council are determined to complete the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone and Deep Seaport Project.
“These projects will bring a lot of benefits to China and the military junta, so they will complete the project. Also, the military junta may pressure the Arkan Army (AA )using Chinese pressure as an excuse for these projects,” added another resident of Made Island who is aware of the Kyaukphyu project.
On the other hand, as the fighting for Kyaukphyu intensified, the military junta reportedly sent Chinese workers from Kyaukphyu to Made Island, where military security projects are being carried out.
These Kyaukphyu projects are part of the Chinese government’s economic strategic plan, under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and are worth over US$7 billion.
The Framework Agreement for the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone and Deep Seaport Project was signed by a Chinese company (CITIC) and the Myanmar government in 2018, and the Concession Agreement was signed on November 5, 2020.
