The Arakan Army (AA) has reportedly taken control of major Chinese investment projects in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, valued at tens of billions of dollars. According to a report from the Institute for Strategic and Policy Studies (ISP-Myanmar) on December 28, 2024, the AA now oversees 10 out of 11 Chinese-funded initiatives in the region.
Key projects under AA control include the $1.09 billion natural gas pipeline, the $11 billion Mandalay-Kyaukphyu railway, the $1.5 billion oil pipeline, the $9.6 billion Kyaukphyu deep-sea port and special economic zone, and the $180 million Kyaukphyu natural gas-fired power project. Collectively, these projects amount to a staggering $23.37 billion in investment.
Other critical infrastructure controlled by the AA includes the Kyaukphyu-Aan railway, the Aan wind power project, the Mandalay-Kyaukphyu road, the Kyaukphyu-Naypyidaw highway, and the Thandwe wind power project. The financial value of these projects remains undisclosed.
The AA’s control over these strategic ventures highlights its influence in Rakhine State and raises questions about the future of Chinese investments in the region. The implications of these developments are significant, given the scale and importance of these infrastructure projects to Myanmar’s economic growth and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how stakeholders, including the Myanmar government, Chinese investors, and the international community, will address this shift in control. Stay tuned for further updates on this critical development.