China denies training Wa Army helicopter pilots
A report that the Chinese government is giving helicopter pilot training to Wa soldiers is inaccurate and China respects Myanmar's sovereignty, an embassy official said on Monday .
Last week, news emerged that about 30 soldiers from the United Wa State Army (UWSA) will be sent to China for pilot training. But a spokesperson for the United Wa State Party (UWSP) said the report was untrue.
After the story broke, The Daily Eleven contacted the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar to seek confirmation, but no contact could be made. Only on Monday did an official come forward to say the rumour was false.
“I read this news in Myanmar newspapers. When looking at the facts, it is not true,” said Chinese information officer Lei Zhen.
UWSP has also denied the news, and the Chinese government respects Myanmar’s sovereignty, he added.
“We respect Myanmar’s sovereignty. We always support Myanmar’s peace process as a good neighbouring country. We support the efforts to achieve a long-lasting ceasefire in order to create political stability and peaceful conditions. In the border areas, we, together with Myanmar, are working for peace and stability,” said Lei Zhen.
In April last year, Jane’s Intelligence, an international military intelligence website, reported that the UWSA had received five Mi-70 army helicopters from China.
Although the story specified five helicopters, government sources say it was only two helicopters and they were not directly imported from China but came via the Mekong River in Laos, according to Jane’s Intelligence. Both the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar and the UWSP/UWSA dismissed the report.
The Irrawaddy news agency said it received confirmation from the UWSA’s top command that 30 Wa soldiers are to be sent to China for helicopter training.
“We don’t even have soldiers who have passed the matriculation exam. So how could we learn to become pilots?” said Aung Myint, spokesperson for the UWSA.
There have been similar reports of Chinese intelligence personnel giving regular military training to Wa soldiers.
