Calls Sanctions Against Myanmar Inappropriate, China Defends Military Regime

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. (Wikimedia Commons/Ecuadorian Chancellery)

JAKARTA - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the international community to refrain from imposing sanctions on the military regime, calling such actions "inappropriate intervention".

On the other hand, China as one of the allies urged Myanmar to resolve its political crisis through internal dialogue, as well as the reconciliation process.

Wang Yi highlighted Myanmar as one of the hot spots of global problems, in his speech during the opening ceremony of the 9th World Peace Forum held at Beijing's Tsinghua University on Saturday last week.

"In Myanmar, the main task is to promote internal dialogue and realize political reconciliation," Wang Yi said, in remarks published on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, as quoted by The Irrawaddy Tuesday, July 6.

ASEAN Leaders Meeting 2021. (Wikimedia Commons/Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

“The twists and turns in Myanmar's democratic transition process are basically the country's internal affairs. They must resolve it by political means as soon as possible, through dialogue and consultation within the framework of its constitution and laws."

Wang Yi's remarks come as Myanmar has remained mired in political and economic turmoil for the past five months since the Myanmar military seized power in a February 1 coup. Since then, the regime has faced national opposition to military rule.

The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on military regime leaders and their spouses, while several western companies have fled the country in response to the regime's human rights abuses, which have included the killing of nearly 900 people during a crackdown on anti-government protesters. -coup d'etat.

However, China continues to insist that the Myanmar crisis is an internal matter. China along with Russia have blocked all attempts by the United Nations to take action against the military regime.

Despite the national resistance to the military regime, Wang Yi told his Myanmar counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin in Chongqing last month, Beijing is ready to work with Myanmar, because China's policies towards its neighbors are not affected by changes in Myanmar's domestic and external situation.

Demonstrations against Myanmar's military coup. (Wikimedia Commons/Ninjastrikers)

"China has supported, and will support Myanmar in choosing a development path that suits its own circumstances," Wang Yi said at the time. China has also pushed for its support through the Association of Southeastern Nations (ASEAN) proposals for Myanmar.

The special ASEAN summit on April 24 set out its policy of engagement with the junta and China has backed it. However, Myanmar's coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said he would carry out ASEAN's suggestion 'only when stability comes to Myanmar', a way to ignore ASEAN's proposals.

Wang Yi stressed that China strongly supports ASEAN in working with ASEAN for a 'soft landing' from the crisis in Myanmar.

"The international community must truly respect Myanmar's sovereignty and the choices of its people, do more to help narrow differences, and refrain from imposing unilateral sanctions and inappropriate interventions," Wang said.

It is known, the latest sanctions against the Myanmar military regime were imposed by the US on Friday last week. The sanctions targeted 22 members of the regime and their spouses and children. Washington has also blacklisted three Chinese companies for providing support to the Myanmar regime through a revenue-sharing arrangement with military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited that has been approved.

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 covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.