A Burmese citizens’ group has released a report indicating that Chinese public and private companies have inextricable ties to the Burmese military, with five companies supplying arms to the Burmese military and being the main Austrian supporters of the military.
Radio Free Asia reports that the Burmese citizens’ group Justice for Myanmar has released a report showing that of the 16 foreign companies supplying conventional arms and related items to the Burmese Defense Force, China accounts for the most, with five, including China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) and China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC). China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), and China Aviation Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), followed by India, Israel, Russia and Singapore with two each, and North Korea and Ukraine with one each.
A spokesman for Justice for Burma, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, told Radio Free Asia that China’s North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) sells arms to the Burmese military, which uses them against the people; the company also operates two copper mines in the region, such as the Lebetang copper mine, evicting the indigenous population and polluting the environment. Chinese public and private companies are inextricably linked to the Burmese military.
“A spokesperson for Justice for Burma cited the UN’s “Truth Commission” as saying that the Burmese military uses revenue from trade with China to support the National Defense Force in its war against the Arakan Army in northern Burma and Rakhine State.
The spokesman also revealed that the business of the military and related companies is not subject to audit and parliamentary interference, and that the commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, has no way of informing the public about his personal gains. He criticized the same group of people who make decisions and buy and sell, and there is clearly a conflict of interest.
“Justice for Burma has consolidated a list of Burma’s military and business partners based on publicly available information from the Burma Investment and Companies Authority (DICA).
According to the report, among the 112 important business partners of the Burmese military, there are 20 companies involving Chinese and Hong Kong funds, including Wanbao Minerals (Hong Kong) Copper Company Limited, which operates the Lebetang copper mine, Yangzi Mining Company Limited, Yutong Bus, Burma’s Century Liao Yuan Knitting Factory, etc. At least nine of them are textile companies, and the Burmese military is mainly involved in the garment manufacturing trade with China for profits.
These 112 companies, more than 90% of the two major military enterprises with Myanmar MEHL (Myanma Economic Holdings Limited) and MEC (Myanmar Economic Corporation) have business cooperation. The UN report said that Min Aung Hlaing’s capital for the coup came from the two major military companies.
According to Fung Ka-shing, director of ASEAN and East Asia Studies at the Hong Kong Institute of International Studies, who is familiar with Southeast Asian politics, if the Chinese Communist Party maintains its “inaction” or so-called “hiding behind the light” posture toward Myanmar, anti-China sentiment there is likely to continue unabated.
Myanmar’s 10,000 people block the road to prevent the army from entering the city to crack down on the 4 June incident
Burmese people chant slogans in a square in downtown Yangon on Feb. 17, 2021, to protest against the military’s coup d’etat.
The situation in Myanmar is becoming increasingly tense. A few days ago, the Burmese military government sent armored vehicles to patrol and troops to fire to disperse the protesting crowd. On Wednesday (17), tens of thousands of people in Yangon launched the “Wo You Se” action to prevent military vehicles from entering the city to crack down on the people. Netizens have lamented that the “June 4” scenario has been recreated in Myanmar.
According to AFP, more than 10,000 protesters in Yangon launched the “He You Se” action on Wednesday. They parked several private cars and trucks on the bridge and held banners saying “We need the US military to provide support” and “We will not kneel to the military” to prevent military vehicles from entering the city to carry out the crackdown.
Burmese people gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy on February 11 to protest against China’s assistance to the Burmese military in controlling the Internet. (AFP)
On February 16, the military government held its first press conference, denying that it had “staged a coup” on February 1. Military spokesman Soe Myint Tun said it was for the purpose of holding elections and handing over power to the winning party.
On the same day, several videos surfaced online showing the Burmese army using force to crack down on people. Gunfire has been heard repeatedly in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State in northern Myanmar, for several days. In addition, soldiers can be seen on the streets of several cities, including Yangon. Another video posted on the Internet shows protesters shouting and fleeing amid the gunfire at night.
Netizens have left messages lamenting, “Tiananmen Square has been recreated in Burma,” and “The communist bandits, the black hand behind the scenes, are wreaking havoc wherever they go.”
According to political commentator Chen Baokong, the world is inevitably divided into two worlds: the free world and civilized world led by the United States; and the authoritarian world and barbaric world led by the Chinese Communist Party. Despite the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to avoid the term “Cold War,” the fact is that the Cold War is not only not over, but is escalating, or rather, a new Cold War is upon us again. Burma today is the testing ground for the new Cold War between the U.S. and China.
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