China secretly sending Myanmar rebels Covid-19 vaccines, medical workers and other aid, groups say

Thousands of vaccines, medical workers and construction materials for quarantine centres have reportedly been shipped over the porous border

Health workers have also crossed over from China to deliver masks and hand sanitiser, according to multiple rebel groups

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A labourer works on a new Covid-19 quarantine centre in Muse, near the China-Myanmar border. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:15pm, 22 Sep 2021Updated: 9:34pm, 22 Sep 2021

Delivering vaccines to Myanmar’s junta, but also to rebel groups that are the generals’ sworn enemies, China is playing both sides to fight the coronavirus and strengthen its hand in the messy politics of its southern neighbour.

Beijing has already handed over nearly 13 million doses to the generals, who ousted Aung San Suu Kyi in February and plunged Myanmar and its health care system into chaos.

The junta has appeared powerless to halt the spread of the virus, spooking authorities on the other side of its porous, 2,000-kilometre frontier with China, where officials are waging a “zero case” war on Covid-19.

A migrant worker returning from China in May has his temperature taken at the Myanmar border gate in Muse, Shan state. Photo: AFP

So Beijing has quietly shipped thousands of vaccines, medical workers, and construction materials for quarantine centres, according to multiple rebel groups.

Chinese Red Cross staff “come to help us sometimes … to help us prevent the Covid pandemic,” said Colonel Naw Bu, spokesman for the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).