Myanmar junta chief visits China for the first time since taking power - Asia and the Pacific

Yanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will travel to China this week to attend regional summits, state media said on Monday, in the embattled top general’s first visit to the influential neighboring country since seizing power in a 2021 coup.

Since the coup, Myanmar has been in chaos, including areas along the border with China, as an armed resistance movement, combined with established ethnic minority militias, has wrested control of large areas from the military government.

Min Aung Hlaing will attend summits of the Greater Mekong Subregion and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Co-operation Strategy (ACMECS) and participate in a meeting with Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam on November 6 and 7 in Kunming, MRTV said.

“He will hold meetings and discussions with authorities from China and work to improve bilateral relations, the economy and development in various sectors,” the report said, referring to the junta chief.

The decline of Myanmar’s military, despite the rapid advance of anti-junta fighters since a surprise offensive last October, has alarmed China, which has sealed off parts of the border and halted key imports to rebel-held areas, Reuters reports.

China has strategic economic interests in Myanmar, including major oil and gas pipelines crossing the country and a planned deep-sea port in the Bay of Bengal.

Beijing too imports rare earth metals from its smaller neighbor for use in the automotive and wind energy sectors.

“Whether he goes there to get more Chinese support or to get more Chinese pressure, it’s only bad for the people,” said David Mathieson, an independent analyst who monitors Myanmar.

“China has made it clear that they support the SAC and their election transition plan,” he said, referring to the junta’s State Administrative Council, led by Min Aung Hlaing.

The junta began a nationwide census last month to pave the way for elections next year, despite being out of control of large parts of the country and dissolving dozens of political parties.

Beijing promised technical support and assistance to the junta for the census and proposed elections, state media in Myanmar said said in August after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Min met Aung Hlaing.

The meeting, in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw, was seen by some critics as Beijing’s support for the junta and activists in the war-torn country expressed frustration on China’s position, calling it a barrier to their struggle for democracy.