Chinese ambassador praises junta preparations to repatriate Muslim refugees in Bangladesh

By Admin 10 Mar 2023

DMG Newsroom
10 March 2023, Sittwe

While most Myanmar political analysts believe the repatriation of Muslims from Bangladesh to Arakan State remains impossible at present, a Chinese envoy has praised the junta’s repatriation programme.

Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai, diplomats from Indian and Bangladesh, and representatives from the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance visited the Nga Ku Ya and Hla Poe Kaung transit camps in northern Maungdaw, and observed the junta’s preparations to bring back Muslims from Bangladesh.

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar said Friday that Chen Hai praised preparations to bring back the displaced people from Myanmar, adding that China is a friendly neighbour to both Myanmar and Bangladesh. 

Beijing would continue to assist with the prompt rehabilitation of the first batch of returnees, said the embassy. 

The regime plans to take back more than 1,000 Muslim refugees displaced to Bangladesh in the first phase, according to the February 14 issue of the junta-controlled Myanma Alin newspaper. 

Political analyst U Than Soe Naing remarked: “China is ready to cooperate with any pariah government if it aligns with its interests. It appears that China will cooperate with any dictator if their actions would serve its interests and if they would help implement its policies.”

China is attempting to build its influence in Arakan State through its investments, according to Arakan residents.

“China is taking steps to build influence in countries that are included in its Belt and Road Initiative,” said Ko Min Htee, who monitors Chinese projects in Arakan State. “China has distanced itself from Myanmar following the coup. Meanwhile India is promoting ties with the regime. So, China needs to build influence over Myanmar, especially if Arakan State would provide China with a sea exit.”

The China-backed special economic zone (SEZ) project in Kyaukphyu Township is expected to boost development in China’s landlocked Yunnan Province and provide China with direct access to the Indian Ocean.

The Chinese ambassador and the rest of the delegation also visited a liquefied natural gas-fired power plant in Kyaukphyu operated by Power Construction Corporation of China.

China and the junta have agreed to resume the Muse-Kyaukphyu railroad, which links Yunnan Province with Kyaukphyu.

“China has taken different approaches since early this year, and attached greater importance to its ties with the junta. In their Maungdaw trip, the Chinese ambassador visited Kyaukphyu. Before his visit, the junta leader also visited Kyaukphyu. So, China is providing greater support regarding the Arakan State, including on the Muslim issue,” said Ko Min Htee. 

Junta officials, however, reportedly have not yet come and discussed their repatriation plans with the Muslim refugees themselves, according to refugees, who are demanding that they be allowed to live back in their original villages, and be granted citizenship.

More than 700,000 Muslims fled to neighbouring Bangladesh when the Myanmar military carried out “clearance operations” following the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army’s attacks on several police outposts in 2017. 

The United Nations’ human rights chief at the time described the military’s actions as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing,” while others in the international community have called it genocide, including Bangladesh’s former foreign minister and the US secretary of state.