Domestic Boycott, Myanmar Military Regime Receives 500 Thousand Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine From China

Arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine in Myanmar. (Source: Chinese Embassy in Myanmar).

JAKARTA - The Chinese government, through the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, handed over more than 500 thousand doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, amidst a boycott of the vaccination program by health workers and the public.

Arriving in Yangon on May 2, the aid according to the Supreme Commander of the Defense Agency will be distributed to all hospitals in Myanmar.

The Chinese Embassy in Yangon called this assistance a 'Paukphaw' friendship or brotherhood between China and Myanmar, amidst many countries cutting ties with the leader of the Myanmar military regime, as reported by The Irrawaddy, Tuesday 4 May.

But thousands of social media users in Myanmar are skeptical of the Chinese vaccine donation saying, "No thanks, we don't need your vaccine," in a post on the Chinese embassy Facebook page.

Anti-Chinese sentiment has risen dramatically in Myanmar, after China repeatedly blocked attempts by the UN Security Council to take action against coup leaders.

One social media user wrote, "Let me die with COVID-19, I will not inject any vaccine from China."

"While millions of people refuse to use the COVID-19 vaccine, China is sending the vaccine to the regime. It is very clear who they support," wrote another social media user.

"The Chinese vaccines are only for military officers and their cronies. Not for us. Even if they give them to us, we will not take them as long as we are ruled by the regime," wrote another social media user.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi promised to deliver 300,000 doses of China's COVID-19 vaccine during a meeting with Myanmar State Advisor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in January.

For information, Myanmar's COVID-19 vaccination program, which the Myanmar military regime is trying to run, has received resistance from the public. Health workers also chose to strike rather than work for the military.

This program was initiated by the Government of the National League for Democracy (LND) by starting a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program on January 27. Health care staff and volunteer medical workers are among the first to receive an injection of the AstraZeneca vaccine donated by India.

However, following Myanmar's military coup on February 1, nearly all health workers refused to receive a second shot of the vaccine in protest against military rule.

However, military-controlled MRTV claims more than 1.5 million people in Myanmar received the first dose of the vaccine between January and April 23, while 312,953 others received the second dose.

Myanmar's military regime initially only provided vaccines for those over 64 years of age. Over time, all Myanmar citizens over 18 years of age can receive vaccinations.

Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 testing in Myanmar has also dropped dramatically, from 16 thousand - 18 thousand tests per day, now only around 1,500-2,000 tests per day.

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