Chinese business interests dominate gambling and local trade in Hseinwi, backed by MNDAA
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Phyo / Pearl (NP News) - January 29
According to interviews conducted by The Statesman Journal with locals, Chinese businessmen brought into Hseinwi Township in northern Shan State, an area controlled by MNDAA forces, have monopolized not only gambling operations but also local businesses.
Currently, there are more and more Chinese businessmen in Hseinwi, and local businesses they have monopolized include grain trading, agricultural activities and sugarcane cultivation.
"As the city is under the control of the Kokang, many Chinese businessmen have started operating. Recently, even the phone towers have become Chinese owned poles. They use Chinese phone lines. Locals are not allowed to do business, and the Chinese they bring in have a monopoly. Chinese businesses are increasing. The main thing is that they are involved in gambling. They have also become monopolists in the local grain trade," said a local in northern Shan.
It is also reported that some agricultural entrepreneurs from the Hseinwi are even forced to return to work as laborers in agricultural industries monopolized by Chinese entrepreneurs.
Many Hseinwi residents who have fled their homes are currently living under the government administration controlled by the Tatmadaw. For various reasons, those remaining in Hseinwi live in fear of loss of human rights and forced recruitment.
"Locals who don't have a background support have to move to nearby Lashio or other places. Most of them have left their homes and now live under the government's rule. To be honest, locals want to live peacefully in Hseinwi under the government's rule as before. There are many losses of freedom and human rights. People who did not flee are also worried about the new soldiers recruitment. During the ceasefire negotiation between Kokang and the government, nothing special has changed in Hseinwi," he said.
After talks between the Tatmadaw and the Kokang group at the Two Elephants Hotel in Lashio in 2025, there were reports that an agreement had been reached to hand over Hseinwi to the Tatmadaw, but the MNDAA groups are still in control of Hseinwi, and locals are hoping that the Tatmadaw will regain control of Hseinwi.