In a rare high-level diplomatic engagement, Myanmar’s junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. That marking their first meeting since the 2021 military coup that plunged Myanmar into civil war.
State media from both countries confirmed the encounter, underscoring China’s continued strategic engagement with Myanmar’s military regime despite international sanctions, widespread human rights abuses, and ongoing armed conflict.
Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in February 2021 by overthrowing the elected civilian government, has since faced global condemnation and indictment efforts at the International Criminal Court. Yet, he has managed to retain crucial ties with global powers China and Russia. The Moscow meeting signals Beijing’s intention to maintain strong ties with the junta, even as it plays a delicate balancing act in a fractured Myanmar.
During the meeting, Min Aung Hlaing expressed gratitude for China’s humanitarian aid following a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake in March and thanked Beijing for supporting Myanmar's stance on regional and international matters.
Chinese state media reported that President Xi voiced support for Myanmar's pursuit of "a development path suited to its national conditions" and emphasized China's interest in protecting its investments, personnel, and infrastructure projects in the country. Xi also called on the junta to take stronger actions against cross-border crimes and ensure regional stability.
Since the coup, more than 6,600 civilians have been killed and millions displaced, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). Myanmar's military is currently fighting an expanding resistance coalition that includes ethnic armed organizations, some of which have long-standing ties to China.
China, a key arms supplier and investor in Myanmar, is particularly concerned about security and economic disruption along their shared border. Northern Shan State, a resource-rich region with strategic importance for China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is currently under rebel control. Analysts believe China is now hedging its bets, continuing to support the junta while maintaining covert links with ethnic armed groups that influence critical border territories.
The Xi–Min Aung Hlaing meeting reveals the complex geopolitical calculus at play: a China focused on protecting its regional interests, a Myanmar regime seeking legitimacy, and a world watching warily as one of Asia’s most volatile conflicts deepens.
This meeting holds profound implications for Southeast Asia’s security architecture, cross-border trade, and China's diplomatic posture. As violence in Myanmar escalates, neighboring countries including India, Thailand, and Bangladesh face increasing refugee inflows, disrupted commerce, and rising insurgency risks. Beijing’s dual-track approach — supporting the junta while courting rebels — reflects its desire to control outcomes in Myanmar without assuming full responsibility for its instability.
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