No party should interfere in Myanmar's internal affairs, warns China

ANKARA

China's top diplomat Wang Yi warned that no party should interfere in Myanmar's internal affairs and called it a bottom line, state-run media reported Saturday.

Wang made these remarks during an informal discussion between the foreign ministers of China, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar in Thailand's city of Chiang Mai on Friday, Xinhua News reported.

"The current situation in Myanmar remains a cause for concern, and there are three bottom lines to be adhered to -- Myanmar should not be subject to civil strife, should not be detached from the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) family, and should not be allowed to be infiltrated and interfered with by external forces," Wang said.

He added that China, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar live next to each other and they better understand special national condition in Myanmar than other countries.

The meeting was attended by Wang Yi, Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe, and Eksiri Pintaruchi, Thai permanent secretary of foreign affairs.

"No one wants Myanmar to restore stability and development more than its neighbors," Wang said.

He also proposed to jointly support Myanmar to bring domestic peace, and enable Myanmar people to overcome current situation

On Thursday, China's foreign minister after a meeting with senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the junta chief in Myanmar, also backed the junta’s efforts towards early political reconciliation and said Beijing is willing to deepen bilateral ties with its Southeast Asian neighbor.

In February 2021, Myanmar’s army overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power in a military coup.

The country fell into deep social, political, and economic turmoil as the army launched brutal campaigns against perceived opponents.

Since October, fighting between the military and armed opposition groups has intensified and spread to most of Myanmar.

Since the 2021 coup, over 2,470 airstrikes have been carried out, resulting in over 1,300 deaths.

More than 2.8 million people in the war-torn country are displaced, and at least 18 million require humanitarian aid, according to UN agencies.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid