Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Kunming seems to mark a watershed in Beijing’s policy toward the country’s civil war.

It comes as the military junta seeks to sure up support both at home and abroad.Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing embarked on an official visit to China on Tuesday-- the first such trip since his army seized power in February 2021.

Myanmar's embattled junta chief arrived in China Tuesday -- his first reported visit since leading a coup in 2021 -- but analysts say the invitation is only a lukewarm endorsement from his key ally and could backfire.

Since the coup Myanmar has been in chaos, including areas along its border with China, as an armed resistance movement combined with established ethnic minority militias to wrest control of large territories from the military government.

The delegation is known to include Shwe Than Lwin Group’s Kyaw Win, as well as Xiao Sen, who was behind a shady, now-suspended development project in Yangon a decade ago.

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will travel to key ally China this week, both countries said Monday, in his first known trip there since seizing power in a 2021 coup.

Beijing has been a major ally and arms supplier of the Myanmar military but last year China sealed parts of the border and halted key imports to rebel-controlled areas when the internal conflict reached its southern borders.