China has presented the Myanmar military regime with six patrol boats amid the junta’s stepped-up use of its navy to bombard towns and villages in coastal areas of the country.
Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai handed over the patrol boats to Deputy Home Affairs Minister and police chief Lieutenant General Ni Lin Aung on Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy said.
“The patrol boats will help improve water transport safety, sea rescue operations and protection and utilization of water sources,” it said.
Ni Lin Aung, who was sanctioned by the EU for his involvement in a massacre near Moso Village in Karenni (Kayah) State’s Hpruso in December 2021, is one of Min Aung Hlaing’s most trusted generals. He attended the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum in China in 2023.
Junta propagandists said China provided two 28-meter patrol boats and four 48-meter patrol boats as a sign of the pauk-phaw (fraternal) relations between China and Myanmar and to strengthen the law enforcement activities of Myanmar Maritime Police Force.
The Chinese Embassy said the vessels were supplied in response to a proposal made by the now-ousted National League for Democracy government in 2018. Chinese President Xi Jinping signed an agreement to supply patrol boats during his visit to Myanmar in 2020.
According to military analysts, the boats will give a boost to the junta’s navy, which is taking part in operations to counter the Arakan Army (AA)’s attacks in coastal Rakhine State in western Myanmar. They could also be used to fight anti-regime forces along the Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers, they said.
The regime has a history of using civilian vessels to move soldiers, and to transport military hardware and food supplies.
Human Rights Watch reported in 2022 that the regime used three Japan-donated passenger vessels for military purposes, prompting objections from Tokyo. Rakhine media outlets have accused the regime of using civilian passenger vessels to transport soldiers and weapons to Rakhine State.
During a meeting with members of the regime-appointed Yangon Region government on Monday, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing admitted that his regime was struggling to contain the popular revolt against it.
