In the four years since, his armed forces fought dozens of ethnic armed groups, with rebel militias (some closely linked to China) opposed their rule.
The conflict has seen the smallest Min Aung Hlaing be condemned by rights groups and pursued by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, but he maintains close ties with allies China and Russia.
According to the Government Media, Myanmar Global New New Bright report, he met Beijing’s leader Xi Jinping outside the Russian Victory Day celebration after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in March.
It also thanks China for its “support for Myanmar’s position on regional and international fronts.” “Specific measures to ensure the safety of Chinese people, institutions and projects in Myanmar and strengthen efforts to combat cross-border crime.”
According to the Political Assistance Association, more than 6,600 people have been killed since the coup and millions have been displaced.
China reportedly feared that its doorstep would undermine regional peace and its economic ambitions, and China reportedly mediated talks between the Myanmar military government and major rebel groups.
China is a major ally and arms supplier to the military government, but analysts say it also keeps in touch with Burmese armed ethnic groups, which own territories near their borders.
Beijing has long been focusing on Myanmar’s resource-rich northern Shannan (now controlled by the rebels) to invest infrastructure under its trillion-dollar belt and road infrastructure program.
While Min Aung Hlaing’s Friday meeting with Xi Jinping was his first as government chief, the general had previously seized power a year ago in January 2020, and had previously met with Chinese leaders in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar.
