A Chinese delegation tasked with monitoring the ceasefire has arrived in Lashio, the capital of northern Shan State in Myanmar, on Monday.

According to the exile group Kachin National Organisation (KNO), more than 30 vehicles bearing Chinese flags, reportedly carrying military and government personnel, were seen in the area. Unconfirmed sources suggest that the delegation includes Deng Xijun, China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs. Xijun previously visited Myanmar on March 10 and met with the State Administration Council (SAC) Chairman, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

KNO also noted that video evidence indicates a shift in China’s longstanding policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of neighboring countries.

Meanwhile, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) is also present in Lashio, where it is reportedly holding discussions with SAC officials.

The local administration in Lashio is expected to be handed back to SAC authorities once offices reopen on April 22, following the Myanmar New Year holidays. However, government staff in Lashio reportedly remain uninformed about the transfer.

In September, the Myanmar Counter-Terrorism Central Committee designated the northern alliance groups, including the MNDAA, as terrorist organizations.

Under the 2008 Constitution, the Kokang Self-Administered Zone—comprising Kunlong and Laukkai townships—was established in northern Shan State. Representatives from this zone have been elected to parliament through various constituencies.

The MNDAA, an ethnic armed group primarily composed of Mandarin-speaking Han Chinese from Kokang, has openly declared its alliance with China. It uses Chinese as the official language in the areas it controls, which include parts of northern Shan State. This has led to challenges for non-Chinese-speaking local populations, such as the Shan, Ta’ang (Palaung), Kachin, and Bamar communities.

Article 53 of Myanmar’s 2008 Constitution assigns the Union National Coordination Committee (NUCC) the task of resolving disputes between the Union and States.

Analysts suggest that Beijing’s influence over the MNDAA reflects its broader strategic interests in shaping Myanmar’s political dynamics.