Min Aung Hlaing meets Xi Jinping in China; Military to retake vital Myanmar-India border trade route

Min Aung Hlaing meets Xi Jinping in China

China’s President Xi Jinping on Tuesday endorsed the political leadership of Burma’s military ‌regime leader Min Aung Hlaing, who was inaugurated president by a pro-military parliament on April 10, as the two met in Beijing to map out the future development of bilateral ties. Min Aung Hlaing is in China June 15-19, which is his second trip abroad since he tightened his grip on power following elections that ended in January.

“Beijing prioritises its ties with Naypyidaw as part of its diplomacy strategy with neighbouring nations,” Chinese state news reported President Xi saying to Min Aung Hlaing in a closed-door meeting held at the Great Hall of the People that lasted for less than an hour. He affirmed his support for the ​current military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) administration.

“I am willing to continue strengthening our leadership, carry forward the brotherly friendship between our two peoples, [and] deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation,” President Xi ⁠told Min Aung Hlaing, the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. President Xi also spoke about making greater contributions to regional peace and development through its bilateral ties with Burma. Read more

Over 500 male workers ‘forcibly’ conscripted

The Myanmar Industries, Crafts and Services Trade Unions Federation (MICS-TUsF), a group advocating for workers’ rights, told DVB that it has received 534 requests for assistance involving male workers aged 18-35, who have been forcibly conscripted while traveling to or from work, or near their workplaces, since the conscription law was enforced in 2024. Most cases have been reported from industrial zones located in Yangon.

Thet Hnin Aung, the MICS-TUsF general secretary, told DVB that many of the reported workers became unreachable after being allegedly taken for conscription. He has helped secure the release of around 180 workers of those reported missing by their families. The regime has conscripted nearly 120,000 males in 24 intakes, but sources told DVB that around 12 per cent have been allowed to return home after completing their service.

Labor groups told DVB that they are calling on the International Labour Organization (ILO) to take stronger action against the regime in Naypyidaw over forced conscription and labor rights violations. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) stated that Naypyidaw has increased the abduction and forced conscription of youth across the country, calling it “stealing a generation” over the last two years.