Farkhund Yousafzai
Beijing, 17 August 2024 (TDI): China has come out in support of a plan by Myanmar’s military junta to hold a vote next year to resolve a crisis that has plunged the Southeast Asian country into armed conflict.
“We back Myanmar in achieving domestic political reconciliation within the framework of its constitution and resuming the democratic transition through elections,” Wang said in Chiang Mai city on Friday.
The foreign minister was in Thailand for a meeting with his counterparts from the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation forum, a group that also includes Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.
During the LMC meeting, Wang repeatedly underlined Beijing’s concerns over crimes including human trafficking, gambling, and online scam syndicates at borders with the countries. They agreed to hold a ministerial-level meeting this year to address such non-traditional security threats in the region.
Wang’s visit comes as tensions have intensified in Myanmar between the junta and various opposition groups, especially along the border with China.
In a rare admission, the junta said that rebels had captured 3 senior military commanders, including a major general, in the northeastern command in Lashio, Shan state, in recent weeks.
Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing said in mid-June that polls would be held after a population census in October – an offer given as the authorities continued to lose ground in the fighting.
The military junta has promised multiple times before to hold a vote to transfer power to a civilian government.
Wang met Hlaing in Naypyidaw on Wednesday and promised to give technical support and assistance to conduct a census to pave the way for an election.
But Beijing’s statement about the meeting did not mention support.
While in Chiang Mai, Wang also held a series of discussions on the margins of the LMC
In talks with foreign ministers from Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand on Friday, Wang said no nations were more concerned about Myanmar’s stability than its neighbours.
“We hope that we can assist Myanmar to de-escalate the tension in the country. The prevailing situation is worrying,” the Chinese foreign ministry quoted Wang as saying.
He urged the nations to work together to promote “peaceful reconciliation” and support the junta’s proposal.
He also stressed to respect three red lines: no civil wars should be allowed in Myanmar, the country should not leave the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and no “external infiltration” should be allowed.
Wang did not say what he meant by external infiltration, but China has previously accused the US of trying to “stir chaos and colour revolutions” around the world.
