Min Aung Hlaing asserts China’s ‘unequivocal support’ for regime

By Admin 20 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
20 November 2024, Mrauk-U

The Chinese government has unequivocally expressed its support for the Myanmar regime’s sovereignty and actions, according to junta leader Min Aung Hlaing.

The junta boss made the claim as he elaborated on his recent trip to China, his first since the 2021 coup, during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday in Naypyidaw.

“China said it wants to grow together with Myanmar through mutually beneficial cooperation. This is an unequivocal statement of China’s support for Myanmar’s sovereignty and the government’s actions,” Min Aung Hlaing said.

He added that the Chinese government supports the junta’s management of border trade gates along the China-Myanmar border.

One political analyst said: “China and the regime are cooperating for their own motives. The regime needs China’s help to maintain its grip on power. And China needs the regime to promote its interests in Myanmar.”

The Chinese government has reportedly proposed forming a joint venture security company with the regime to protect Chinese projects and businesses in Myanmar, with the regime said to have formed a working committee to sign a memorandum of understanding to establish the company.

“China is apparently attempting to exert military pressure rather than political pressure. Although they aren’t deploying their military directly, they are taking steps to provide security in Kyaukphyu for their interests,” said Arakanese writer and social activist Wai Hin Aung. 

“China may assume that the Arakkha Army (AA) will launch attacks on Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung after seizing the towns it has been fighting for. So, China has rushed to protect Kyaukphyu,” he added.

“If the Arakkha Army captures the current conflict zones, they may advance to Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Mrauk-U, so China is preparing to protect these areas,” Wai Hnin Aung said.

Observers say the proposed joint security company is a veiled effort to bypass Myanmar’s 2008 Constitution, which prohibits the deployment of foreign troops within the country’s territory.

Observers have also warned anti-regime groups that the regime may seek to regain control over lost territories by increasingly deploying drones with technical assistance from China.