NUG Urges China to Drop Support for Junta, Citing Cyber-Scam and Drug Ties

The National Unity Government (NUG) has accused the chief of the military junta, U Min Aung Hlaing and his regime of deep involvement in global drug trafficking and cyber-scam operations, urging Beijing to reconsider its continued backing of the junta. The remarks were made by Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong, the NUG’s Minister of Federal Union Affairs, during a July 5 event marking the completion of the zero draft of the Articles of Federal Transitional Arrangements (AFTA) — a framework aimed at guiding the country's political transition. “My comments are directed at China. The very U Min Aung Hlaing that you are supporting has not only destroyed Myanmar, but has also become one of the world's biggest drug traffickers and the individual who turned our country into a global telecom scam hub,” Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong said. “Will China continue supporting someone who has displaced millions and devastated the country? Or will it choose to support us, who can stabilize the nation, build a better future, and establish a democratic federal union? China needs to reconsider its choices,” he added. While the NUG minister alleged that the junta is directly linked to illicit drug networks and cross-border cyber-scams — locally referred to as Zhapian — he did not provide specific evidence or details regarding the regime's exact involvement. U Toe Kyaw Hlaing, a council member of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) — a broad anti-junta political coalition — echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the military regime is incapable of guaranteeing regional security. “(U) Min Aung Hlaing lacks the support and trust of the people. He cannot deliver the stability in Myanmar that China wishes to see,” U Toe Kyaw Hlaing said. “The root cause of Myanmar's instability is the 2021 military coup. We must continue our efforts to ensure China recognizes this reality.” Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong further argued that lasting peace in the Southeast Asian nation can only be achieved by removing the military regime from power. “The AFTA is one of the key initiatives designed to achieve that goal. Myanmar's future will not be built by the coup regime; it will be built by our people, our diverse ethnic communities, and those striving for a federal democratic union,” the minister stated. Min Aung Hlaing, who recently assumed the role of president while retaining control of the military junta, has announced a 100-day peace initiative to hold talks with Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs). However, the NUG, human rights groups, and women's advocacy organizations maintain that the military has continued to carry out airstrikes, mass killings, and severe human rights violations throughout this period. Independent observers and regional analysts note that drug trafficking and transnational cyber-scam syndicates have expanded exponentially along the Thailand-Myanmar and China-Myanmar borders since the 2021 coup, posing a severe challenge to regional security and the rule of law.