Min Aung Hlaing has promised to make his “utmost effort” to protect Chinese projects and employees in Myanmar, after receiving a veiled rebuke from Beijing for making oblique criticisms that Chia was allegedly backing anti-regime.
When newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia presented her credentials to the junta boss on Wednesday in Naypyitaw, Min Aung Hlaing promised that his regime would do its best to ensure the safety of Chinese projects and staff in Myanmar, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar reported.
He also promised to take practical measures to ensure the safety and stability of the Myanmar-China border, and said he would not allow “any activity that can be harmful to the safety and interests of China,” the embassy added.
However, before Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Naypyitaw during the second week of August, Min Aung Hlaing was grumbling about what he called foreign interference in Myanmar’s affairs regarding the fighting in northern Shan State where ethnic armed groups widely believed to be influenced by Beijing were seizing control of towns.
Although he did not name China, Min Aung Hlaing claimed that junta positions in northern Shan State were attacked by China-made drones. He also stressed the need to stress the source of funding and technology supplied to ordnance factories established in territory controlled by ethnic armed organizations.
Military sympathizers also spread anti-China sentiments.
When Wang Yi met Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on August 14, he said: “China opposes chaos and conflict in Myanmar, interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs by outside forces, and any words and deeds that attempt to drive a wedge between China and Myanmar and smear China,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
Observers view his remark as a warning to Min Aung Hlaing who had alleged Chinese involvement in Myanmar’s civil war.
Wang also urged Min Aung Hlaing to “earnestly safeguard the safety of Chinese personnel and projects in Myanmar, and maintain peace and stability along the China-Myanmar border.”
When Wang met his Myanmar counterpart Than Swe in a separate meeting, he urged him to “steadily promote the development of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, and ensure the safe and smooth operation of the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline project.”
When he gave interviews to reporters while he was in Thailand to attend the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting last week, Wang again stressed the need for the safety of Chinese projects and staff in Myanmar, and peace and stability along the Myanmar-China border.
Then, Min Aung Hlaing changed his tone.
Observers say Myanmar’s geopolitical position does not allow Min Aung Hlaing to go against neighboring China even though he attempted to promote ties with Russia in several sectors after his 2021 coup.
Despite Min Aung Hlaing’s promise to ensure the safety of Chinese projects and staff, many Chinese projects from northern Shan State to Mandalay in central Myanmar have fallen under the control of anti-regime forces.
Trade with China through the key border trade hub of Muse in northern Shan State has grounded to a halt since the launch of Operation 1027 in October. People’s Defense Forces of the civilian National Unity Government also seized the China-backed Tagaung nickel processing plant in Sagaing Region’s Tigyaing Township near the end of July. Anti-regime troops have also occupied the China-backed Alpha cement plant in Mandalay’s Patheingyi Township.
The regime is also losing the war in Rakhine State, the site of the China-backed Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone and an adjacent deep sea port project that will give China direct access to the Indian Ocean.
A few days before Wang Yi’s visit to Naypyitaw, anti-regime forces seized control of off-take stations for the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipelines that had been guarded by junta soldiers.
