Myanmar elections stemmed from talks between junta leader and China’s President Xi: envoy

A senior Chinese diplomat has publicly endorsed Myanmar’s military-run election and confirmed it was carried out under an agreement between Chinese President Xi Jinping and junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, in the clearest sign yet of Beijing’s backing for the polls. China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun made the remarks at a ceremony for international election observers in Naypyitaw on Monday, according to statements published by the military-controlled Global New Light of Myanmar. “The successful conduct of these elections reflects the agreements and cooperative efforts between Myanmar’s Acting President Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Chinese President Xi Jinping,” Deng said at the event, which followed the first phase of voting held on December 28. Speaking on behalf of the Chinese government, Deng thanked Myanmar’s Union Election Commission for inviting Chinese officials to observe the polls, describing the exercise as “successful” and “peaceful,” and framing it as an internal matter for Myanmar. In his statement, Deng said he and other Chinese observers visited six polling stations in Naypyitaw, where voting appeared to be “well-organised and running smoothly.” He claimed voters were actively participating, with queues still visible an hour before polls closed, and praised election staff for “accurately and efficiently” verifying voter identification. “The first part of this election is proceeding smoothly and peacefully,” Deng said, adding that China believed subsequent phases of the election could also be conducted successfully. Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing (R) receives Chinese diplomat Deng Xijun in Naypyitaw in December 2022 (Photo: Military Council/AFP) The ceremony held in Naypyitaw was attended by junta officials and election observation delegations from China and Russia, according to state media reports. Deng has played a central role in Chinese-brokered talks aimed at reducing fighting in northern Myanmar following Operation 1027, a major resistance offensive launched in late 2023. He has been involved in ceasefire negotiations between the military and ethnic armed groups in northeastern Myanmar, including Kokang forces and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). Those talks resulted in the withdrawal of the ethnic Kokang Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army from Lashio, northern Shan State’s largest city, in April, and more recently the TNLA’s return of the ruby-mining centre of Mogok to junta control. Chinese President Xi has met Min Aung Hlaing privately on at least two occasions since the 2021 coup. The two leaders held a closed-door meeting in Russia in May and met again during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in August. According to pro-junta media, Myanmar’s military-led election was discussed during both meetings. The junta staged the first phase of its election on Sunday amid a raging civil war and criticism from Western governments and the United Nations. Military-backed parties, led by the Union Solidarity and Development Party, have so far emerged as the only declared winners. Officials from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Nicaragua observed the election, including the deputy chairman of Russia’s State Duma. https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/army-proxy-party-claims-win-in-first-phase-of-myanmars-junta-orchestrated-election/

Myanmar elections stemmed from talks between junta leader and China’s President Xi: envoy

The statement marks the first public acknowledgement of China’s direct role in promoting the process, widely dismissed as a sham

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