China says ‘no interference’ in Myanmar

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Tuesday pushed back efforts to intervene in Myanmar, saying Beijing adheres to a "policy of non-interference."

“China adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs (of other nations),” said Zhao Lijian, spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, referring to Myanmar.

He was replying to a question when pointed out that the US has urged Beijing to exert influence on Myanmar after the military junta executed four activists last weekend.

According to a transcript of his daily news briefing, Zhao said all parties and factions in Myanmar should work for the long-term interests of the country and properly handle differences and contradictions within the framework of the constitution and laws.

The military junta in Myanmar invited global wrath after it executed four people over the weekend, including top political activists.

All four activists were arrested last year and the junta charged them with “brutal murdering cases” on March 14, 2021.

It is for the first time since the 1980s that Myanmar has carried out executions.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar’s history is replete with junta regimes.

The latest coup, mounted last year in February, has been met with mass civil unrest. The military has used force in its attempts to quell dissent and killed more than 2,000 people, according to a local monitor Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

The UN estimates that more than 700,000 people were internally displaced in the country as of June 1, including more than 250,000 children.

Around 117 people have been sentenced to death by the junta since last year’s military coup, including 41 who were sentenced in absentia.