In a rare display of public dissent, Myanmar junta-backed nationalists organized their first protest directly targeting the Chinese government.
On Sunday, members of the Patriotic Monks Union (Yangon) and Myanmar Nationalist Organization gathered outside Yangon City Hall and the Chinese Embassy in Yangon, accusing China of supporting the Brotherhood Alliance, The Irrawaddy reported.
This ethnic alliance, comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and Arakan Army, has inflicted significant losses on regime troops in northern Shan State over the past three weeks.
The protesters, in a junta-approved rally, accused Beijing of arming both the ethnic alliance and People’s Defense Force groups (PDFs), asserting that China’s support is contributing to the destruction of Myanmar.
The junta has faced a series of defeats in northern Shan State, leading pro-regime media to blame China for backing the Brotherhood Alliance.
The demonstration marks a notable shift as it openly names China in a public protest approved by the regime. This suggests a growing displeasure within the junta towards its traditional ally, possibly due to China’s failure to intervene in the conflict despite its influence.
During the protest, Pyinya Wuntha from the Patriotic Monks Union (Yangon) accused China of encouraging and arming the alliance and PDFs.
He warned, “China, you have destroyed Myanmar. Don’t destroy our country. We will all hit you back.”
The march continued to the Chinese Embassy, where protesters shouted anti-China slogans, accusing Beijing of meddling in Myanmar’s internal affairs and exploiting the nation.
The nationalists also alleged that China was purchasing rare earth elements from the Kachin Independence Army, an ethnic armed group in northern Myanmar, at favorable prices.
This unprecedented protest comes as the junta faces criticism for its inability to halt the alliance’s offensive.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing claimed at a recent emergency meeting that the ethnic alliance was using China-made drones to bomb junta positions.
In response, the Chinese Embassy issued a statement on November 15, urging the Myanmar regime to devise a practical plan for border stability.
The border trade between the two nations has been halted since the alliance’s offensive, affecting Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative projects in conflict zones.
Despite historical ties between the junta and Beijing, tensions have risen, with China expressing dissatisfaction over the regime’s handling of online scam centers along the Myanmar-China border.
The junta’s delayed action on China’s requests to address this issue has strained relations between the two allies.
Hundreds of foreigners working in Myanmar, including UN agency staff, have been moved to safety as an insurgency against military rule gathers pace.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted a government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in the 2021 coup, ending a decade of tentative democratic reform and triggering widespread protests.
