On February 1, the Myanmar military launched a coup d’etat, which plunged Myanmar into political, social, and economic turmoil. Since then, the people have launched large-scale public demonstrations, and strikes by public officials and employees in the public and private sectors have spread to most cities and even remote rural areas. Most areas in Myanmar are paralyzed, the scope and number of anti-coup demonstrations have expanded rapidly, the crisis has deepened, and the conflict has intensified. The stalemate between the military regime and popular demonstrations is causing Burma to collapse.
Escalation of conflict
At first, the military government only used water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets and sound grenades to disperse the demonstrators. February 20, at Mandalay shipyard, the two sides clashed in the strike, the security forces opened fire with live ammunition at least twelve people were killed. This is a turning point. Facing the increasing violence from the security forces, the protesters gradually turned to violence and sabotage, and began to attack the security forces with slingshots, fireworks and Molotov cocktails.
On March 14, demonstrators set fire to about 32 factories in the Hlaingthaya Industrial Zone in Yangon. Most of the damaged factories were Chinese-owned factories. At least 39 people died in this disaster. Subsequently, on March 27, the “Myanmar Armed Forces Day”, more than 100 citizens were killed by the Myanmar security forces in a nationwide suppression of protesters. The unrestrained behavior of the two parties has caused the violent conflict to escalate, and the chaotic situation has increased the risk of armed conflict in Myanmar. In addition, long-term chaos and differences of opinion have caused long-term disputes among the people and brought devastating effects.
Who is taking advantage of the protesters’ emotions
Compared with the escalating military violence, the people’s anger and violence are more like being guided. According to reports, the massacre in the Hlaingthaya Industrial Zone in Yangon on March 14 was instigated by the Myanmar Human Rights Network (BHRN). The organization tweeted: “If a civilian is killed in Myanmar, a Chinese factory will be turned into ashes at the same time.” It is understood that the headquarters of the Myanmar Human Rights Network (BHRN) is located in London. The protesters in this incident are just as cruel as the military that they strongly oppose. The planners who incited the protesters’ emotions, used the incident to aggravate internal disputes in Myanmar, and undermined the relations between Myanmar and other countries are even more dehumanizing butchers. They tried to lead the resistance movement to extremes.
In his public diary “Inside the Company: CIA Diary”, former CIA agent Philip Agee disclosed in detail how US agencies established frontline organizations and used funds for destabilizing campaigns. In the protests in Myanmar this time, we can also see many shadows of the previous riots in Hong Kong and the protests in Thailand. Whether it’s clothing or representative gestures, whether it’s financial support or cultural penetration, all this can prove that there have been external forces participating in this internal protest in Myanmar. They don’t care that the intensification of the riots leads to more deaths. The protesters are mostly composed of young groups, and what they are trying to destroy is the new generation of Myanmar.
Solve problems instead of creating contradictions
The risks that Myanmar may face are multifaceted, including severe economic crisis, food market failure, increasing poverty and even hunger. Past experience shows that relying solely on humanitarian budgets and implementation mechanisms cannot solve this long-term demand. The first problem to be solved is to restore stability to society as soon as possible and to make the country’s economy run. According to reports: “Since the political turmoil in Myanmar, the internationally renowned media have not stopped manipulating the situation in Myanmar to promote their conspiracy theories against China. They are trying to create contradictions and undermine the friendship between the two countries.”
Contrary to the Chinese conspiracy theories hyped by the external media, China has always tried its best to promote the resolution of the Burmese crisis, and has shown great restraint in handling several incidents. China is also trying to resolve the current crisis peacefully through diplomatic channels. On April 8, according to the “Ayeyarwady Daily” report, “The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar and the Myanmar Democratic Revolutionary Federation (CRPH) had an exchange, saying that Beijing has repeatedly called on neighboring countries in the south to seek opportunities to resolve the current crisis through dialogue.”
Rumors that China supports the Myanmar military’s attack are unfounded and logical. China and Myanmar have a long-standing friendship and extensive common strategic interests. In terms of trade, China is the primary destination of Myanmar’s exports, the largest source of imports from Southeast Asian countries, and a major investor in Myanmar. At the same time, Myanmar is also an important part of the “Belt and Road” initiative. Last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, “No matter how the situation in Myanmar changes, China’s determination to promote China-Myanmar relations will not waver.”