The head of Myanmar’s junta will make his first visit to China since taking power

(Reuters) – Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will travel to China this week to attend regional summits, state media said on Monday, in the first visit by the embattled top general to the influential neighboring nation. when he seized power in a coup in 2021.

Since the coup, Myanmar has been in chaos, including in areas along its border with China, as an armed resistance movement combined with militias established by ethnic minorities to wrest control of large territories from the military government.

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

“He will hold meetings and discussions with Chinese authorities and work to strengthen bilateral, economic and development relations in several sectors,” the statement said, referring to the head of the junta.

The deterioration of Myanmar’s military, in the face of rapid gains by anti-junta fighters since a surprise offensive last October, has alarmed China, which has sealed off parts of the border and halted key imports into rebel-held areas, Reuters reported.

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 also imports rare earths from its smaller neighbor for use in the automotive and wind power sectors.

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

“China has made it clear that it supports the SAC and their electoral 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 not having control over large swaths of the country and with dozens of disbanded political parties.

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

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

(Reporting by Shoon Naing; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Martin Petty)