As I see it | Myanmar’s executions were a slap in the face for China. It’s time to ‘speak in one voice’ against the junta

Name: Myanmar junta’s execution of democracy activists triggers local and international outcry
Uploaded: 2022-07-29T00:00:21.000Z
Duration: 4 min 44 s
Description: Myanmar junta’s execution of democracy activists triggers local and international outcry

By putting four activists to death, the generals ignored Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent calls for reconciliation and rational consultation

In doing so, they put Chinese economic interests in Myanmar at greater risk. Beijing should respond by using its leverage – and censuring the junta

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Myanmar nationals living in Thailand protest in Bangkok on Tuesday against the junta’s execution of four activists. Photo: AP

Maria Siow

Published: 8:00am, 29 Jul 2022

China may have publicly said that it would not interfere in the internal affairs of Myanmar after the junta confirmed this week that it had executed four democracy activists, including a former MP.

But Beijing could have registered its displeasure with the military regime for disregarding Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s calls to seek political reconciliation.

It could have also expressed its unhappiness with the generals for further threatening Chinese economic interests in Myanmar by escalating domestic civil tensions.

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Myanmar junta’s execution of democracy activists triggers local and international outcry

China’s Foreign Ministry did neither, responding to Washington’s calls for Beijing to put pressure on the junta by emphasising its adherence to the “principle of non-interference” in other countries’ internal affairs.

But privately, Beijing must surely be incensed that instead of heeding Wang’s calls to hold talks with the political opposition, Naypyidaw murdered four of them.

In doing so, the junta effectively closed the door on the “rational consultation” and “political reconciliation” that China’s foreign minister had urged just a few weeks earlier.

The executions came less than a month after Wang had become the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Myanmar since the military seized power in February last year – a move widely seen as Beijing offering the junta recognition.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}As I see it | Myanmar’s executions were a slap in the face for China. It’s time to ‘speak in one voice’ against the junta

As I see it | Myanmar’s executions were a slap in the face for China. It’s time to ‘speak in one voice’ against the junta