Beijing says foreign interference is not the answer to Rohingya crisis

Beijing expressed its support for Myanmar’s government on Saturday over the ongoing Rohingya crisis, saying foreign interference in the situation will not work.

The remarks by Guo Yezhou, a deputy head of the Communist Party’s international department, came as Beijing refused to condemn Myanmar’s treatment of Rohingya Muslims – described by United Nations officials as a “textbook example” of ethnic cleansing.

More than 500,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled across the border to Bangladesh following a counter-insurgency offensive by Myanmar’s army in the wake of militant attacks on security forces.

During a meeting last month with UN Secretary General António Guterres, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated China’s support for the Myanmar government’s efforts to protect its national security and said it opposed recent violent attacks in the country’s Rakhine state.

Asked why China had remained silent on the humanitarian crisis, Guo said: “Based on experience, you can see recently the consequences when one country interferes in another. We won’t do it.”

Guo, who was speaking on the sidelines of the party congress in Beijing, did not elaborate.