Myanmar Junta Leader Meets Chinese President Amid Corridor Controversy

International Desk

For the first time since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar’s military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has met Chinese President Xi Jinping. Myanmar’s state media reported the meeting on Saturday.

This meeting, held on the sidelines of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on Friday, is considered the highest-level diplomatic engagement between the junta and China since Myanmar’s democratically elected government was ousted.

State newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported that Min Aung Hlaing expressed gratitude to China for its role in supporting Myanmar. He thanked China for humanitarian assistance following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in March and for backing Myanmar’s position on regional and international issues.

According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, President Xi emphasized support for Myanmar’s “development aligned with its national realities” and reiterated China’s commitment to upholding Myanmar’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Xi also urged the junta to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, businesses, and investments in Myanmar and to take stricter measures against border-related crimes.

Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar has descended into a near-civil war, with the military battling various ethnic armed groups and anti-junta resistance forces, some of which are believed to have links with China.

Despite widespread allegations of human rights abuses, international criminal court accusations, and sanctions from Western nations, the junta has maintained close ties with China and Russia.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners reports that at least 6,600 people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands displaced since the coup.

China, concerned about instability along its shared border with Myanmar and the impact on Belt and Road Initiative projects, is believed to have acted as a mediator between the junta and resistance groups.

Analysts note that while China supplies arms and diplomatic support to Myanmar’s military, it also maintains ties with ethnic groups in northern Shan State as part of its strategic interests in the region.

Though this marks Min Aung Hlaing’s first meeting with Xi Jinping as junta leader, the two had previously met in January 2020 in Naypyidaw when Myanmar was still under a civilian government.