Asking The Myanmar Military Regime To Protect $ 1.5 Billion Oil And Gas Pipelines, China: A Shared Responsibility

JAKARTA - Anti-Chinese sentiment was again shown by the anti-coup protesters of Myanmar's military throughout Thursday, March 11. This happened after the documents of the meeting between the Chinese envoy and the Myanmar military regime on February 24 were leaked to the public.

In the document, it was stated that China asked the Myanmar military to provide better security, as well as intelligence (data) on ethnic minority armed groups in the oil and natural gas (Migas) pipeline belonging to China that crosses Myanmar.

"Safeguarding the security of bilateral cooperation projects is a shared responsibility of both China and Myanmar. This will also benefit the safe operation of the bilateral cooperation project", China's Foreign Ministry said in response to a question about the document.

The pipeline is a project symbolic of China's cooperation with Myanmar which was opened in 2013. With a value of $ 1.5 billion, this project stretches for 770 kilometers to flow crude oil, especially from the Middle East.

The project is part of the Belt and Road campaign echoed by China. Billions of US dollars have been invested in Myanmar, including an economic route that ends at $ 1.3 billion deep seaports, an industrial zone, a new city next to the commercial hub of Yangon to a train to the border.

"Hostile public opinion will pose long-term threats and damage to China's plans", said Yun Sun, Director of the China program at the Washington-based Stimson Center.

As previously reported, documents of China's secret meeting with the Myanmar military regime were leaked to the public. In the document, it was stated that the Director-General of the Department of External Security Affairs under the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bai Tian, asked the military regime to ensure the safety of China's oil and gas pipelines in Myanmar, following the emergence of anti-Chinese sentiment, as reported by The Irrawaddy.

The 770-kilometer project consists of a twin pipeline network running parallel from the port of Kyaukphyu in Rakhine State on the Bay of Bengal, through the Magwe and Mandalay regions and northern Shan State before entering China.

The document also reveals that China hopes the military regime will put pressure on the Myanmar media, to reduce its doubts about China. Bai said the regime should curb the media from only positively writing about China.

Also, the Director-General said, 'Criticism about the oil and gas pipeline should not be tolerated, because it is important for Myanmar's socio-economic development. The relevant organization should control the projects' fake news.

As a result of the leak and circulation of this document, the Myanmar military regime detained two Foreign Ministry officials, on Tuesday, March 9.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news surrounding the Myanmar military coup by tapping on this link.

We will not guaranteed the security of China Myanmar Gas Pipe Line and will boycott all Chinese Projects in Myanmar if China use veto power to protect Myanmar Military Junta at United Nations Security Council. # BoycottChineseProjects # RejectMilitaryCoup # WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/LQwjhhEjvN

- Maung Yay Chan (@MaungYayChan1) March 5, 2021