Wa State is apparently a de facto Maoist socialist state in Myanmar. The state is led by the United Wa State Party which apparently has “excellent” relations with China! Can you believe it, modern China funding an armed Maoist breakaway state? I am kinda baffled that I had not heard of them previously, that seems like something that should be well known among communists.
Information seems sparse. Lots of claims (albeit from largely hostile sources) of Wa State’s historical wealth being linked to a massive and influential illicit drug trade. Again, couldn’t really comment on that. That and wealthy Chinese citizens visiting for gambling, which seems to have been cracked down on in the early 2010’s with UWSA wanting to shake the “drug trade and gambling hotspot” image. And relations with Beijing do seem friendly, although Wa State is weary not to be considered simply a Chinese proxy. They don’t seem to be playing a major part in the current civil war (the devestating humanitarian impact of which cannot be understated) but still hold some territory and a military in the ballpark of 30,000.
General consensus from those interested: secretive.
It’s best they do stay secretive; otherwise, the US will let loose the terrorists they’re funding to destroy Myanmar to go kill them too.
