China Disburses Rp. 86 Billion For Military Regime, US Disburses Rp. 719 Billion To Help Myanmar's Humanitarian Crisis

Myanmar anti-coup demonstration illustration (Twitter/@CubaconAmalia)

JAKARTA - The United States (US) plans to disburse funds amounting to Rp. 719 billion to Myanmar, when the military regime is said to be seeking assistance from China worth Rp. 86 billion.

China will transfer more than $6 million to the Myanmar military regime to fund 21 development projects, Myanmar's foreign ministry said, in a sign of cooperation between the two countries.

Unlike Western countries that condemn military regimes for undercutting democracy, killing and imprisoning its opponents. China has opted for a diplomatic move, saying its priority is stability and not interfering with neighboring countries.

Citing Reuters Wednesday August 11, the foreign ministry said the funds would be transferred from China for projects within the framework of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation. It said it included veterinary vaccines, culture, agriculture, science, tourism and disaster prevention.

An agreement was signed on Monday 9 August between the Myanmar military regime and the Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, the statement said. The Chinese Embassy's Facebook page confirmed the signing.

Opponents of Myanmar's junta accuse China of supporting a military takeover, in which elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi was ousted and detained. Meanwhile, Beijing rejects such accusations and says it supports regional diplomacy on the crisis.

As a neighbor, China is an investor as well as a strategic business partner of Myanmar. One of the big investments in the Bamboo Curtain Country is the opening of an oil and gas pipeline network, crossing the Land of a Thousand Pagodas. As well as, plans for economic zones and major port developments.

Separately, the US announced the provision of aid of 50 million US dollars or around Rp. 719,405,000,000 to Myanmar, in line with the worsening of the COVID-19 case and the humanitarian crisis in the country.

In Myanmar, US funds will help those forced to flee violence and persecution, and help groups provide health care services in addition to basic necessities such as food, shelter and water, the US State Department said.

"This funding comes at a critical juncture in increasing humanitarian need, helping to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of Thai and Burmese people," said US State Department spokesman Ned Price. "After the February 1 coup, people from Burma continued to flee their homes. them because of the ongoing violence."

Six months after the army seized power, Myanmar's economy has collapsed and its health system has weakened as coronavirus cases soar.

COVID-19 cases peaked in Myanmar last month, with an average of 3,824 new daily infections now reported, Reuters data showed. There have been 333,127 infections and 12,014 coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic began.

The Myanmar Coup. The editor of VOI continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Civilian casualties continued to fall. Readers can follow news about the Myanmar military coup by tapping this link.