Tun Mon Thet (NP News) – May 2 

The Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has reportedly arrived in Myanmar today (May 2), according to the reliable sources from the high rank of the State Administration Council (SAC). 

As per information, Mr. Qin Gang potentially met with the former military leader Senior General Than Shwe in his visit before or after meeting with the current Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in his visit on Tuesday. 

The role of the military (Tatmadaw) cannot be hidden out in the political transition of the Southeast Asian country, Myanmar, as changes and turning points took place led by the Tatmadaw. 

The Chinese Foreign Minister met with Noeleen Heyzer, the UN’s Special Envoy for Myanmar, in Beijing on Monday – one day before his trip to Myanmar. 

During the meeting, he called on the international community to respect Myanmar’s sovereignty, constitution and legal frameworks so as to resume the political process through dialogue. 

Before Qin Gang was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2023, he served as Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the United States. 

“He was the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of China when the 2021 political transition was happening in Myanmar,” said a renowned writer who specializes in China-Myanmar relations ‘Moe Aye Aung’ continuing that “He has been working in the foreign ministry since 1992 for thirty years in different departments and sections. Therefore, he has observed and understands the attitude of the American towards Myanmar in a big picture.” 

Moe Aye Aung added: “Therefore, I believe that the matters related to law-and-order restoration, peace process and election are expected to discuss transparently with full facts.”

Dr. Hein Khaing is an expertise on China-Myanmar relations. He remarks: “The Chinese government only acknowledges a country’s ruling government whenever they are dealing with a sovereign country. They don’t acknowledge the opposition group as a government but consider just as a CSO.” 

On the other hand, terrorist entities ‘NUG’ and ‘PDF’ have not received chances to be treated as the government of Myanmar by foreign governments including China, United States or Japan but as the shadow government.

On April 18, Director-General of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Mr. Peng Xiubin, paid a visit to Myanmar’s former military ruler Senior General Than Shwe and Former President Thein Sein before meeting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.