CNA sparks fire to discord Tatmadaw and Myanmar-China
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Tun Mon Thet (NP News) - July 19
The Singapore-based Channel News Asia published an article on 10 July by Myanmar correspondent Leong Wai Kit. The article with inferior journalism did not involve credible sources but featured about Myanmar administration following the trips to China by former President U Thein Sein and Vice-Senior General Soe Win.
The CNA article tries to portray disagreement between the Commander-in-Chief and the Vice-Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services of Myanmar; but also, the former President and China’s Foreign Minister.
Former President U Thein Sein made an official visit to China in late June and attended the Grand Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence where he held a talk with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Despite detailed facts, both the Information Team of the Myanmar State Administration Council and the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar released information about the talk on what they discussed.
Myanmar and China have been living with mutual trust and understanding for many decades. It goes without saying that the two esteemed persons exchanged views within the framework of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
The CNA correspondent, without a credible source, reported an unreliable but attempting to kill three birds with one stone that “the Chinese FM asked U Thein Sein to encourage the Senior General to transfer power and form an interim government”; which much likely impossible as deviating from the Myanmar’s 2008 Constitution.
In the sphere of conducting talks under the 5 Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the very first norm is ‘mutual respect’. Advising beyond the Constitution is quite impossible.
“I don’t think the Chinese foreign minister suggested U Thein Sein contradicting the 2008 Constitution. The possible suggestion I can imagine might be encouraging to hold the election as the election is the only way to overcome the military and political dilemma that we are currently facing,” Dr Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP) remarked.
China’s demand for Myanmar involves the country’s stability, tranquility, and peace as part of regional security. In the arena of connecting and sharing the borderline territories, ensuring the condition, in which Myanmar with politically stable and peaceful, is a simple demand.
The CNA’s article is nothing more than the ‘energetic impulse’ to flame the anti-China wick.
The AFP chairman continued, “Upon the announcements released by the two sides, I understand that China might encourage Myanmar to emerge a strong and elected central government, which plays a key for national reconciliation and enduring the sovereignty, that Myanmar’s Union Government always need.”
The West-oriented media such as The Irrawaddy, Myanmar Now, DVB, and now, the CNA from Singapore have frequently added fuel to ablaze with sub-standard journalism to contaminate the people-to-people relations between Myanmar and China.
Sitting on the geo-strategic position, Myanmar’s tranquility and peace are undoubtedly relied for both in strengthening the advantages of it.
On the other hand, with the tradition of respecting seniority and comradeship, Myanmar Tatmadaw is the institution with a highest fraternal tie to each other.