China won’t end Myanmar’s conflict with the United Wa State Army

In 2018, I travelled to Myanmar as part of coursework with the Australian National University to research ongoing ethnic conflict in the country. As with most of Southeast Asia, China’s regional influence permeated Yangon: billboards written in Mandarin and infrastructure projects flying the five-starred red flag lined the highway into Yangon. China’s involvement in the emerging democracy also extends to Myanmar politics—some argue China holds the key to securing peace in this Southeast Asian country.