China assisting terrorists in Myanmar, accuses Myanmar Army Chief -

Moscow/ Naypyitaw: Myanmar Army Chief made an open accusation that the terrorist organisations operating in northern Myanmar receive assistance from China. Army Chief General Min Aung Hlaing, while making this accusation during his recent interview with one of the Russian news channels, appealed to the international community to help in dismantling the terrorist activities in Myanmar. There is tremendous anger regarding the Chinese domination efforts, along with coronavirus, and now the smaller countries also have started raising their voices against China. The accusations made by General Hlaing, without naming China, are attracting the attention of media from around the world.

Myanmar Army Chief General Min Aung Hlaing was recently interviewed by Russian channel Zvezda. During this interview, he accused that both the terrorist organisations, the Arakan Army and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, are receiving large scale assistance from China. General Min Aung Hlaing said that because of the support received by these terrorist organisations, from a strong foreign power, Myanmar alone is not able to tackle them.

Although Hlaing did not directly name any country, he gave clear indications saying that Chinese weapons were found during the actions taken by the military against the terrorists. General Hlaing, during an interview with a Japanese daily, a few months ago, had also made the same accusation that terrorist organisations in Myanmar are receiving weapons from China.

Military officials and sources have also confirmed these Chinese activities. China has made considerable investments in the Indian Ocean sector to dominate the industry and to build pressure on India. China has made investments worth billions of dollars, even in Myanmar, under its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. This includes investments in projects like mining, energy, transport and port sectors. Myanmar military officials claimed that China is trying to pressurise the Myanmar government to achieve other objectives along with these projects, and is using the terrorist organisations for the purpose.

Myanmar has initiated moves to improve relations with India to counter this Chinese bullying. Last year, Myanmar Army Chief General Min Aung Hlaing held a meeting with the Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. During this meeting, counter-terrorism action and defence cooperation were discussed. It has also been reported that the Myanmar Army Chief held an independent meeting with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, after the Victory Day Parade function in Moscow. Sources drew attention to the fact that Myanmar has purchased its first submarine from India.

Against this background, the accusation made by the Myanmar Army Chief that China is sponsoring terrorist activities in Myanmar become significant. The allegation indicates that a small country like Myanmar also may challenge the domination efforts of China in the future.