Wary of losing Myanmar’s arms market to Russia, China pushes Pak to supply to Junta

INTERNATIONAL DESK: China, wary of losing Myanmar’s arms market to Russia, is pushing Pakistan to make key defence supplies to the ruling junta.

With coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing making regular visits to Russia with a shopping list for jet fighters, helicopters and missiles, China is concerned that it will lose Myanmar as a customer for its weapons but cannot directly sell arms to Myanmar due to fear of sanctions, said people aware of the matter.

While the Myanmar junta maintains close ties with China, the military has been keen to expand its outreach and is cultivating Russia. Soviet Union and later Russia has been one of key exporters of defence items to Myanmar and the current regime is focusing to expand that partnership.

Egged on by China, Pakistan is also reportedly considering selling heavy machine guns, 60 and 81mm mortars and M-79 grenade launchers to Myanmar.

ET had earlier reported that Pakistan was helping Myanmar to maintain JF-17 fighters and planning to export missiles. Myanmar military has been seeking to expand its ties with Pakistan and is eyeing purchase of air-to-surface missiles from Pakistan for its JF-17 fighter aircraft.

A few years ago, the Myanmar military had bought 16 JF-17 Thunder multi-role aircraft from Pakistan for $560 million. The aircraft is co-developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation.

Pakistan was formerly a strong critic of the Myanmar government for what it alleged was a “state-sponsored campaign” against Rohingyas in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Myanmar, on its part, had accused Pakistan in the past of arming and training the radical Rohingya group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army.

(The Economic Times)