Irrawaddy-Nov 7
As his air force escalates strikes on civilian areas under resistance control, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing told Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday that his regime was merely responding to attacks by rebel groups. On his first visit to China since the 2021 coup, the junta leader met with Li in Kunming and maintained the blame-game tactics he has used for the past three years.
Min Aung Hlaing claimed the Brotherhood Alliance of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army and Arakan Army turned down his proposal for peace talks. The alliance and allied groups have seized most of northern Shan State bordering China in their yearlong Operation 1027 offensive. The junta, unable to mobilize ground troops to retake the lost territory, has resorted to relentless airstrikes against civilian targets in the liberated areas. Min Aung Hlaing also accused the MNDAA of breaching last January’s ceasefire brokered by China by seizing more towns and villages. The MNDAA dealt the junta its worst military defeat of the uprising in August by capturing the North Eastern Command. Li, ignoring the junta’s escalating war crimes against civilians, expressed his appreciation for the Myanmar government’s efforts to promote “peaceful dialogue to solve armed conflicts by political means rather than violence.” “Stability in northern Myanmar is crucial, and China reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and strongly opposes any actions that harm the interests of Myanmar,” Li was quoted as saying by junta media. The regime is well aware that China wants cross-border trade restored and its mega investments in Myanmar protected. The junta chief also called for measures to combat illegal businesses and trade at the northern Shan-China border, claiming they were funding local armed groups. China has threatened action if the Brotherhood Alliance refuses to stop fighting the regime. It has also closed border crossings to territory controlled by the Kachin Independence Army and the United Wa State Army in Kachin and northern Shan State. The MNDAA, which controls Lashio, the northern Shan state capital where it defeated the North Eastern Command, responded to Chinese pressure in September by pledging not to cooperate politically or militarily with the parallel civilian National Unity Government. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/myanmar-china-watch/myanmar-junta-seals-bloody-pact-with-china-in-kunming.html
