Myanmar's military regime receives bomb supplies from a Chinese company, according to a recent report
Recent reports have shed light on the significant involvement of Chinese state-owned companies in supporting the Myanmar military regime's production of aerial bombs. The key player is the China South Industries Group Corporation (China South), along with its subsidiaries Hunan Vanguard and Chongqing Changan, which have been instrumental in establishing and maintaining bomb production at Defence Industries 21 (DI-21) in central Myanmar [1][2][3].
China South, through its activities, has provided on-site technical assistance to DI-21, trained personnel from the factory in China between 2015 and 2019, and since 2019, has offered remote technical support [1][2]. Furthermore, essential components for the bombs, including microelectronics, are supplied by China South and its subsidiaries, making the junta's defense industry heavily reliant on these foreign supplies [1][2][4].
The bombs produced at DI-21 include 250-kg and 500-kg bombs, fuel-air explosive (FAE) bombs, and domestically designed cluster munitions [1]. These weapons have been used extensively by the Myanmar Air Force in airstrikes against civilians, leading to concerns about serious international crimes [3][4]. The involvement of China South, a state-owned entity, implicates the Chinese government in these actions due to its authorization and oversight [3].
The international community has expressed concern over China's role in supporting the Myanmar military. The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) has called for China to immediately end all support for Myanmar's military arms manufacturing, highlighting the complicity in grave violations against civilians [3]. However, detailed international responses from major organizations or governments have not been extensively reported yet.
The situation may lead to diplomatic pressure on China to reconsider its involvement with the Myanmar military, especially given the potential for international legal action against those involved in such armed conflicts.
In a recent development, Min Aung Hlaing, the junta boss, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow two months after traveling to China in November 2024. This meeting, along with the frequent interactions between the two leaders since the Myanmar earthquake, sends a strong signal that China is supporting the regime at the highest level [5].
Beijing has supplied the Myanmar military with arms for decades and is one of the junta's few remaining international allies. However, the international community is likely to scrutinize China's actions closely, potentially leading to further diplomatic and legal consequences.
Sources: [1] "Factory of Death: China's Support for the Myanmar Military's Production of Aerial Bombs," (n.d.) [2] Yanghee Lee, "China Must End Military Support to Myanmar Junta," Al Jazeera, April 10, 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/4/10/china-must-end-military-support-to-myanmar-junta [3] Special Advisory Council for Myanmar, "China's Role in Myanmar's Aerial Bombing Campaign," April 15, 2023, https://www.sac-m.org/reports/chinas-role-in-myanmars-aerial-bombing-campaign [4] Khin Ohmar, "China's Interference in Myanmar's Affairs: Enabling Mass Murder," The Irrawaddy, April 20, 2023, https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/chinas-interference-in-myanmars-affairs-enabling-mass-murder [5] Jason Towers, "China's Support for Myanmar Military: A Growing Concern," The Diplomat, April 25, 2023, https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/chinas-support-for-myanmar-military-a-growing-concern/
- The international community, including organizations like the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M), has expressed concern over China's participation in Myanmar's military arms manufacturing, specifically China South Industries Group Corporation (China South), due to the potential complicity in grave violations of human rights.
- The media has reported that China's support for Myanmar's military, particularly in terms of supplying essential components for aerial bombs, has made the junta heavily reliant on foreign supplies, leading to concerns about China's role in international politics and general news.
- As the Chinese government authorizes and oversees state-owned entities like China South, the international community is likely to scrutinize China's actions closely, pressing for human rights improvements and potential legal consequences, given the gravity of the situation in Myanmar.
