Military seeks assistance from China for drone countermeasures and intelligence

The Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar military, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, is seeking assistance from the Chinese government for drone countermeasures, communication jamming devices, and intelligence, according to defected military officers from the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). It is reported that a meeting was held on July 22 in Naypyidaw with Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar, Chen Hai, to request such assistance and enhance cooperation between the two countries. While the interim government, which seized power through a coup, announced that it had discussed cooperation in various fields, including technology and intelligence, between the two armies, CDM officer Zaw Ye Htet pointed out that this is to suppress resistance forces. "The current meeting between the Commander-in-Chief and the Chinese Ambassador is a situation where they are seeking further technological assistance to suppress the resistance forces. There is no reason to expect any technological return from the Myanmar military," he told the Irrawaddy Times. The Chinese government, which is intervening in Myanmar's affairs, is supporting the interim government for its own interests and is providing and selling aircraft, drones, military equipment, and technology. "They are primarily seeking assistance from China for drone countermeasures, communication jamming devices, and intelligence on resistance groups in the border areas," CDM officer Nyi Thuta also told the Irrawaddy Times. Due to these circumstances, resistance forces fighting against the military coup need to pay special attention to communication security and technological countermeasures, he said. Currently, the Chinese government is primarily seeking stability in its border areas and the crackdown on fraud syndicates, while the interim government, which is suffering losses on the battlefield, is utilizing Chinese assistance and pressure on the resistance. Regarding the meeting between Ambassador Chen Hai and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the interim government announced that they discussed cooperation for stability and regional development in the border areas of the two countries, inviting resistance groups to peace talks, and combating fraud syndicates. Photo – MOI