Description
This paper explores how China sustains frequent interaction with Myanmar’s ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) while publicly upholding its principle of non-interference. It argues that this paradox is managed through non-diplomatic and sub-state channels, including local officials, quasi-state entities, business associations, and research institutes, that operate beyond formal diplomatic visibility. Drawing on field interviews and archival materials, the study conceptualizes this pattern as a form of low-profile engagement, in which China maintains practical influence through localized, informal, and semi-official means. Such interactions enable coordination, mediation, and risk management along the border without openly challenging the sovereignty discourse. The paper contributes to understanding how major powers reconcile foreign policy principles with pragmatic adaptation in conflict-affected neighboring regions.
