China role in coup under scanner

Different charges claim that Chinese soldiers were being transported into the country on flights, or that ‘Chineselooking’ troops have been spotted around Myanmar's cities

With most nations condemning military takeover in Myanmar and arrest of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, there have been reports that China has been supporting the coup.

Different charges claim that Chinese soldiers were being transported into the country on flights, or that "Chinese-looking" troops have been spotted around Myanmar's cities, The Taiwan Times reported.

Various posts on social media platforms in Myanmar claimed that China was helping the military junta set up a firewall to keep dissidents from getting organised online.

According to a report published by a think tank -- Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), unregistered flights from China have been landing every night in Myanmar carrying unknown goods and personnel from China, for over a week now, despite a ban on international flights by the Myanmar military, which took over the country in a recent coup.

Beijing has been playing safe card by giving statements neither in support nor disfavor of the military rule in Myanmar.

Chen Hai, China's ambassador to Myanmar, said that the Chinese government was taken by shock by the military coup in Myanmar.

His remarks came after many pro-democracy demonstrators protested outside the Chinese Embassy in Yangon against this totalitarian change in Myanamr, blaming China for sponsoring the coup plotters.

The apprehension of China's concealed involvement was exacerbated when Myanmar's General Min Aung Hlaing's declared on February 16 that the junta wanted to restart various hydropower projects that had been stalled.