China Offering To Upgrade Strategic World War II Road In Exchange For Teak

China Offering To Upgrade Strategic World War II Road In Exchange For Teak

China has offered to improve the strategic road stretching from India to China again in exchange for teak from Burma, reports S.H.A.N.'s correspondent from northern Shan State. 

The subject of upgrading the World War II road built by the American general, Stilwell, from Ledo in India passing through Myitkyina (now in the Kachin State), Namkham (Shan State), Muse (Shan State) to Chungking (China), the wartime capital of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Kuomintang (Nationalist) government, has been broached by China for the third time, for which Rangoon needs to pay only in kind with teak wood from the Shan State and other parts of Burma. 

"The Chinese began their offer a few years ago and then again in mid-1999," said the source. 

According to the source, Gen. Khin Nyunt's faction had been well disposed to the offer, but was forced to reject it owing to stiff opposition from Gen. Maung Aye, the regime's vice chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the Army. 

The reason for Maung Aye's opposition was not known, although it was reported earlier that the general had blamed his rival, Gen. Khin Nyunt, Secretary-1 and Chief of National Intelligence Bureau, for the unprecedented influx of Chinese migrants in Burma. 

Apart from the Stilwell road, the Chinese had also proposed the construction of the railroad from the border up to Lashio (110 miles) that was also "politely scoffed at" by the junta. 

The Dali (Yunan)-Lashio (Shan State) railway line, stretching 768 km, would be part of the Asian railway network, said the source. 

The Chinese has already begun building on their side, and hope to reach Ruili, opposite Muse, by the year 2006.