Myanmar’s military is back in charge after coup. But it faces a nation transformed. Shibani Mahtani
Replay Video UP NEXT HONG KONG Myanmar s military leaders appeared to have a plan for their coup. They cut off phones and the Internet. Convoys rolled through the capital, Naypyidaw, as soldiers rounded up representatives of the democratically elected government. A new cabinet was readied, and decrees were laid out to be published in state media Tuesday morning. But a day after ousting the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi in their boldest power play in three decades, Myanmar’s generals have not made clear what comes next.
New U.S. leader backs the principle of democracy and warns of a return of sanctions, but unlike a decade ago, when Washington nurtured a transition there, he has limited options.
Myanmar’s Army Chief Challenges Biden, Bets Big on China Bloomberg 2/1/2021 Khine Lin Kyaw and Philip J. Heijmans
(Bloomberg) By seizing power on Monday, Myanmar’s generals are providing Joe Biden with an early test of his efforts to counter the appeal of China’s authoritarian model in Asia.
Army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who was bumping up against a mandatory retirement age this year, already faces sanctions from the U.S. and U.K. due to a brutal crackdown against Rohingya Muslims that has led to accusations of genocide. Beijing, meanwhile, has shown him respect: In a meeting last month with the 64-year-old general, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called the two countries “brothers” while praising the military’s “national revitalization.”
Myanmar’s Army Chief Challenges Biden, Bets Big on China Bloomberg 2/1/2021 Khine Lin Kyaw and Philip J. Heijmans
(Bloomberg) By seizing power on Monday, Myanmar’s generals are providing Joe Biden with an early test of his efforts to counter the appeal of China’s authoritarian model in Asia.
Army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who was bumping up against a mandatory retirement age this year, already faces sanctions from the U.S. and U.K. due to a brutal crackdown against Rohingya Muslims that has led to accusations of genocide. Beijing, meanwhile, has shown him respect: In a meeting last month with the 64-year-old general, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called the two countries “brothers” while praising the military’s “national revitalization.”