China is preparing to welcome Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in the near future, a move that could be seen not only as a major policy shift on the part of Beijing toward the regime, but also as giving some much-desired legitimacy to the junta, which is reeling from a nationwide armed resistance movement.
Since the coup in 2021, no country has invited nor welcomed Junta head Min Aung Hlaing (MAL) as an official head of a country. Chinese have invited other generals of the Junta for official visits, but has snubbed MAL thus far, and MAL has understandably sought Chinese invitation. The only place MAL has visited abroad since the coup has been Russia to visit arms shows or for arms purchases. For each visit, he was NOT treated as a head of state by Russia but as an official guest of the Russian military only, and was not met by politicians but by Russian generals to further re-inforce the lack of recognition. It would be interesting to see HOW MAL’s visit will be treated by Beijing. IF he is received by Chinese premier as this report suggests, that would indeed be the official recognition of the Junta by China as government of Myanmar.
2nd point - should this visit by MAL to China takes place, it would further reinforce suspicions that a major deal or understanding had taken place between the Junta and China since Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to Myanmar in August this year. Since that visit, we have seen a policy shift from Beijing, urging militias under its influence to stop fighting against Junta. MAL declared that he would protect Chinese assets and citizens in Myanmar. Today’s news of scam center arrests are further indication of MAL cow-towing to China’s will. In the coming months we have to wait and see just what MAL and Junta has conceded to China in exchange for Chinese support in its struggle vs anti-junta forces.