China proposes a massive port and a road corridor across Myanmar to reach Bay of Bengal

A massive Chinese funded sea port in coming at Rakine state not far from the port built by India at Sitwe. The Indian funded port was inaugurated a few months back but the port’s connectivity to North east has been affected by rebel takeover of Paletwa inland water port

Myanmar junta officials convened in the capital city of Naypyitaw to discuss plans for the construction of vital infrastructure related to a massive China-backed seaport in Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State.

This meeting follows the recent signing of an addendum to the concession agreement for the deep seaport project, a crucial component of the 1,700-kilometer China-Myanmar Economic Road Corridor connecting Kunming in Yunnan province to the Indian Ocean, The Irrawaddy newspaper reported.

The proposed corridor will give China direct access to Bay of Bengal without having to take a circuitous route through narrow Malacca Straits which has security implications. This is part of the silk route the British had used in the 19 th century to connect the Chinese city of Kunming with India’s North east via Myanmar

Beijing has opened another road corridor through Karakoram ranges and Pakistan occupied

Kashmir to reach Gwador port. All these corridors are intended to reduce the dependence on moving its cargo through Malacca straits

The seaport and special economic zone (SEZ) is a joint venture between China and Myanmar and the junta-backed Kyaukphyu SEZ Management Committee.

Aung Naing Oo, the chairman of Myanmar Special Economic Zone Central Working Committee and a minister in the regime’s governing body, expressed optimism recently envisioning the Kyaukphyu port and SEZ as a pivotal hub connecting markets across Asia, Africa, and Europe, fostering socio-economic development in Myanmar and the broader region.