China backs Suu Kyi on Rohingyas

Cox’z Bazar, Sept. 12: International divisions emerged on Tuesday ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on a worsening refugee crisis in Myanmar, with China voicing support for a military crackdown that has been criticised by the US, slammed as “ethnic cleansing” and forced 3,70,000 Rohingya to flee the violence.

Beijing’s intervention appears aimed at heading off any attempt to censure Myanmar at the council when it convenes on Wednesday.

China was one of the few foreign friends of Myanmar’s former junta.

Beijing has tightened its embrace under Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government as part of its giant trade, energy and infrastructure strategy for Southeast Asia.

The exodus from Myanmar’s western Rakine state began after Rohingya militants attacked police posts on August 25, prompting a military backlash that has sent a third of the Muslim minority population fleeing for their lives.

International pressure on Myanmar heightened this week after UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said the violence seemed to be a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.

The US also raised alarm over the violence while the Security Council announced it would meet Wednesday to discuss the crisis.

But Beijing offered more encouraging words to Suu Jyi on Tuesday, with foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang voicing support for her government’s efforts to “uphold peace and stability” in Rakhine.

“We hope order and the normal life there will be recovered as soon as possible,” he told a press briefing.