Myanmar’s military regime has cranked up nationalist rhetoric and anti-China sentiment in response to the historic loss of Northeastern Command in northern Shan State earlier this month.
Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing claimed in an Aug. 5 televised address that conflict in Myanmar was being prolonged by foreign countries backing armed groups. The allegation came two days after the Brotherhood Alliance’s Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) seized Northeastern Command headquarters in Lashio, marking the first-ever defeat of a military command.
The following day, military supporters organized rallies against the Brotherhood Alliance in Yangon and Naypyitaw, overseen by junta security forces.
More rallies took place in Naypyitaw and Karen State’s Hpa-an on Friday and Saturday with the junta’s blessing.
Without naming China, Min Aung Hlaing claimed ordnance factories built in territory controlled by ethnic armed organizations on the China-Myanmar border were selling weapons to People’s Defense Force (PDF) groups. The junta boss alleged weapons seized from PDF groups had been traced to the factories and that hired foreign technicians were involved.
He also claimed that certain foreign countries were funding the armed groups and supplying them with food, pharmaceuticals, arms, technology and administrative aid.
Pro-junta media outlet NP News meanwhile alleged that Brotherhood Alliance troops were hoisting not only their own flags but also other red flags with stars – meaning the Chinese flag – in northern Shan State towns they had seized.
“I would like to ask Chinese people born in Myanmar what you would do if China is involved in fighting in northern Myanmar. If this is a proxy war, if all Myanmar citizens are facing an indirect invasion, for my part, I would raise the awareness of all Myanmar people,” said NP News’ Kyaw Myo Min in a video published on August 5, one day before the rallies launched.
The protesters saluted Myanmar’s flag, raised banners reading ‘Victory in the just war’, and sang the national anthem and patriotic songs.
The public, however, showed no interest in the rallies or the claim that war in northern Myanmar amounted to a foreign invasion.
In November last year, Min Aung Hlaing alleged anti-regime groups were using China-made drones to drop bombs on junta positions in northern Shan State during the first phase of the alliance’s Operation 1027. Following his outburst, junta-backed nationalists staged protests against Beijing in downtown Yangon and outside the Chinese Embassy.
Last Tuesday (Aug. 6), the Chinese Embassy urged its nationals in Lashio and other conflict-hit areas in northern Shan State to evacuate as soon as possible.
The following day, Chinese special envoy to Myanmar Deng Xijun met with Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw for talks on what junta media termed “internal peace in Myanmar and border stability.”
