This paper examines the language contact and confl ict of the Sino-Burma Jinghpo language varieties used in China and in Burma.Drawing on a historical review of the Jinghpo language varieties,the paper argues that ethnic minority languages and language varieties are important linguistic resources,and making a proper use of the resources is crucial for the win-win outcome of interaction between the peoples on both sides of the national borders.The study fi nds that:1) the ethnic Jinghpo communities are mainly scattered in the bordering regions of China,Burma,and India;2) the Jinghpo language is a marker of ethnic identity,and the Jinghpo people of different nationalities can easily converse in the language;3) the Jinghpo language varieties are influenced by the national languages or common languages of the respective countries and therefore show language variation to different degrees;4) the codification of the written Jinghpo language on both sides of the borders reflects the competing and cooperative nature of the bordering language varieties;and 5) the high intelligibility between the Jinghpo varieties may pose linguistic security questions,for instance,unwanted ideological or political discourses may spread among the users of the Jinghpo language varieties with low levels of surveillance.The author proposes that:1) scholars and policy makers have to have a thorough understanding of the contact and conflict between the Sino-Burma Jinghpo language varieties used on the two sides of the borders;2) this understanding has important policy implications;3)the varieties can be used effectively as crucial linguistic resources;and 4) the importance of a language is related to the economic and political situation of the speakers of the language.The scholarly research has been focused on the description of the language;however,more theoretical studies are needed in the future.