The parallel National Unity Government (NUG) has warned Beijing that pressuring anti-regime groups in Myanmar was not in China’s best interest. The warning came close on the heels of junta boss Min Aung Hlaing’s first visit to China since the 2021 coup.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, NUG Foreign Affairs Minister Daw Zin Mar Aung said putting pressure on anti-regime groups is not the answer to Myanmar’s political problems.
“To overcome the political instability and the cycle of coup after coup in Myanmar, the revolution must bring about a new system that leaves no room for the Myanmar military in the country’s politics, and that guarantees federalism for ethnic people. Just applying pressure won’t work and it won’t be good for China,” said Daw Zin Mar Aung.
She said the NUG understands China’s desire for peace and stability along the border, but China should also understand that Myanmar’s issues can’t be resolved with short-term solutions. The people are fighting the regime to find a long-term solution, she said.
China has been increasing its pressure on ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) based near the border to stop fighting the regime. It has closed almost all the border crossings captured by the EAOs, cutting off their access to fuel, medicines and other vital goods.
Myanmar will have to continue to struggle, and the people also have concerns due to pressure from China, but the revolution would not waver, said Daw Zin Mar Aung.
Political analyst U Than Soe Naing said China has expressed it desire to support and protect the Myanmar military regime by welcoming the junta leader, who has been shunned by the international community and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, on his first visit to China since the coup.
“It means China will do what it takes to protect the junta chief from being overthrown. It will do whatever it can to protect the regime. But if the regime still fails despite its protection, China is prepared to engage with the new government. This is how China’s two-pronged policy works.”
However, Min Aung Hlaing’s trip was not a goodwill visit; he traveled to China to attend the 8th Greater Mekong Summit. He met Wang Ning, the secretary of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, in Kunming on Tuesday.
The NUG sent a request to Beijing to reconsider its invitation to Min Aung Hlaing, said Daw Zin Mar Aung, and Beijing replied that the junta leader’s visit was not a state visit, as he was only attending a regional forum in a province.
The NUG said that such an invitation however could strain bilateral relations, especially between China and the Myanmar people. Anti-Chinese sentiment has been on the rise in Myanmar since the coup, and has grown stronger over the past few months after China made explicit threats against ethnic armed groups fighting the regime.
Min Aung Hlaing will be attending the 8th GMS Summit, the 10th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit, and the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Cooperation Summit in Kunming, and meet Chinese government officials, according to junta media.
The junta boss also met Chinese investors on Tuesday, urging them to invest in 10 sectors including electricity and energy.
