The Economist.
On China's southwestern border,
one of the world's longest-running civil wars has ground to a messy stalemate.
In Myanmar, hundreds of rebel groups fight the ruling military junta
and sometimes each other in skirmishes that have left thousands dead and millions displaced.
Western powers have largely kept out of the conflict, but China has not.
Back in August, China's president
Xi Jinping
had a meeting in Beijing with Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the junta.
State television reported that at the meeting,
Xi
stressed his desire to restore peace and stability in Myanmar.
But a leaked transcript of a meeting between a Chinese diplomat and a rebel group
paints a picture of Chinese diplomacy in its most ruthless mode.
I'm Jeremy Page, The Economist chief China correspondent
and I'm joined today by our Asia correspondent, Sue-Lin Wong,
to find out what China is up to in Myanmar
and to ask what a leaked document tells us about its approach to diplomacy on its borders and beyond.
This is Drum Tower from The Economist.
Sue-Lin, hi, great to see you.