Deputy head of Myanmar’s junta in China to attend defence forum

Subscribe to the Myanmar Now daily newsletter. It's free. Sign up > The deputy chief of Myanmar's military regime has travelled to China to participate in a forum on regional and global security, according to junta-controlled state media. Admiral Tin Aung San, the regime’s deputy prime minister and minister of defence, left on Wednesday with a delegation of high-ranking military officials to attend the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the Global New Light of Myanmar reported. The forum, taking place from September 12 to 14, is expected to draw over 500 representatives from more than 90 countries, including at least 30 defence ministers. The United States is expected to be represented by Michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defence, according to Reuters. High-level meetings are also anticipated with representatives from international and regional organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, NATO, and the European Union. Wu Jiangang, an official with the forum’s organising committee, indicated that the theme of this year’s forum is “Promoting Peace for a Shared Future.” Discussions will focus on issues related to the Asia-Pacific region, international order, global security governance, and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Myanmar has had limited access to international forums since the military seized power more than three years ago. While allies like China and Russia have welcomed junta delegations, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has allowed low-ranking officials to attend some gatherings, most other countries have shunned the regime. As a senior member of the military council formed after the February 2021 ouster of Myanmar’s civilian government, Tin Aung San has been subject to sanctions imposed by the US, UK, and Canada in response to the coup. Before the takeover, Tin Aung San was commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s navy, which last week lost a major naval base in Rakhine State to the Arakan Army (AA). It was just the latest sign of the regime’s weakening hold on power as it continues to face fierce resistance to its rule. On August 3, the Myanmar Democratic Alliance Army, an AA ally, captured northern Shan State’s largest city, Lashio, where the junta’s Northeastern Regional Military Command was headquartered, after a month of intense clashes. As its position on the ground continues to erode, the regime has relied heavily on its air superiority to carry out punitive airstrikes, often targeting civilians in resistance-held territory. While China has long been a backer of successive military regimes in Myanmar, it has notably avoided inviting Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the current junta, to the country.

Deputy head of Myanmar’s junta in China to attend defence forum

The regime’s delegation will be one of more than 90 in attendance at the four-day Beijing Xiangshan Forum in the Chinese capital

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