Suu Kyi meets Xi as Rohingya censure grows

Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, facing growing international criticism over her country's persecution of Rohingya Muslims, yesterday said her government has made progress in creating a peaceful society but acknowledged that "much still remains to be done," reports UNB. In remarks on a visit to Beijing, Suu Kyi did not directly address the crisis that has seen more than 620,000 Rohingya flee the country over the last few months in what the U.N. and the U.S. say is a campaign of ethnic cleansing by Myanmar. Suu Kyi, who spent 15 years under house arrest during the nation's military rule, has come under widespread criticism for not speaking out against the violence. But she was warmly welcomed in China, Myanmar's friendly northern neighbor, including when she met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Suu Kyi spoke at a gathering of political parties hosted by China's ruling Communist Party and said her National League for Democracy-led government "has made progress in its endeavors to create a peaceful, stable and harmonious society."

"But much still remains to be done," she added.

China has avoided criticizing the crisis and state media did not say whether the issue was discussed during her meeting with Xi. The two leaders hailed the potential for future cooperation through a "China-Myanmar economic corridor," state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Suu Kyi's visit comes just a week after Min Aung Hlaing, the commander of Myanmar's military, held his own talks with Xi in Beijing. Myanmar's army remains politically powerful and the civilian government has no control over certain areas such as defense and national security.

Analysts said Beijing has likely won greater leverage over Myanmar by helping shield it from criticism over the Rohingya crisis.

"Myanmar has leaned toward China because of international criticism and condemnation on Myanmar over the crisis," said prominent Myanmar political analyst Yan Myo Thein.

Beijing immediately saw that the crisis provided an opportunity for China to restructure a relationship that stalled after Myanmar began opening to the West earlier this decade, said David Mathieson, a former human rights researcher who is now an independent analyst based in Myanmar.

The international outrage and a U.N. human rights investigation into Myanmar's armed conflicts has "given Beijing the opportunity to redefine and rejuvenate its support for the Myanmar state - but at a hefty price," Mathieson said.

 

Suu Kyi meets Xi as Rohingya censure grows

Myanmars civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, facing growing international criticism over her countrys persecution of Rohingya Muslims, yesterday said her government has made progress in creating a peaceful society but acknowledged that much still remains to be done, reports UNB. In remarks on a visit to Beijing, Suu Kyi did not directly address the crisis that has seen more than 620,000 Rohingya flee the country over the last few months in what the U.N. and the U.S. say is a campaign of ethnic cleansing by Myanmar. Suu Kyi, who spent 15 years under house arrest during the nations military rule, has come under widespread criticism for not speaking out against the violence. But she was warmly welcomed in China, Myanmars friendly northern neighbor, including when she met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Suu Kyi spoke at a gathering of political parties hosted by Chinas ruling Communist Party and said her National League for Democracy-led government has made progress in its endeavors to create a peaceful, stable and harmonious society. But much still remains to be done, she added. China has avoided criticizing the crisis and state media did not say whether the issue was discussed during her meeting with Xi. The two leaders hailed the potential for future cooperation through a China-Myanmar economic corridor, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Suu Kyis visit comes just a week after Min Aung Hlaing, the commander of Myanmars military, held his own talks with Xi in Beijing. Myanmars army remains politically powerful and the civilian government has no control over certain areas such as defense and national security. Analysts said Beijing has likely won greater leverage over Myanmar by helping shield it from criticism over the Rohingya crisis. Myanmar has leaned toward China because of international criticism and condemnation on Myanmar over the crisis, said prominent Myanmar political analyst Yan Myo Thein. Beijing immediately saw that the crisis provided an opportunity for China to restructure a relationship that stalled after Myanmar began opening to the West earlier this decade, said David Mathieson, a former human rights researcher who is now an independent analyst based in Myanmar. The international outrage and a U.N. human rights investigation into Myanmars armed conflicts has given Beijing the opportunity to redefine and rejuvenate its support for the Myanmar state - but at a hefty price, Mathieson said.