China asks all parties in Myanmar to handle differences under Constitution

China on Monday reacted guardedly to military coup in neighbouring Myanmar ousting de-facto leer Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her governing party, calling on all to properly handle ir differences under constitutional and legal framework and uphold political stability in country.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing here after being asked for China’s reaction to coup that "we have ted what happened in Myanmar, and we are learning more information.” “China is a friendly neighbour of Myanmar. We hope that all parties in Myanmar will properly handle ir differences under constitutional and legal framework and uphold political and social stability,” he said, parrying questions over reports that coup was a setback to Beijing, especially to USD nine billion China-Myanmar Ecomic Corridor (CMEC), which provides access to China to Indian Ocean.

He also declined to answer question of wher China would join several or countries who have condemned coup.

“I stated China's position on this issue,” Wang said and reiterated Beijing’s stand that all parties should properly handle ir differences.

seizing of power by Myanmar's military triggered an avalanche of condemnation and demand for restoration of democracy in coup-prone country from leers and organisations across world.

anuncement about coup on military-controlled Myawdy TV came after an earlier declaration that because national stability was in jeopardy, all government functions would be transferred to military chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.

It was also anunced that military h taken control of country for one year and Myanmar's leer Suu Kyi and or senior figures from ruling party have been detained in an early morning raid, spokesman for governing National League for Democracy (NLD) was quoted as saying in media.

Observers say that coup has put Beijing in a quandary as it h moved closer to Suu Kyi in recent years in sharp contrast to backing to two-dece-long rule of military junta.

According to reports, military was unhappy over China’s continued backing to narco-militia kwn as United Wa State Army, Myanmar’s largest ethnic insurgent army which carried out several violent attacks.

Contrary to expectations, Suu Kyi, after her election, warmed up to China despite fact that Beijing for deces h maintained close ties with Myanmar's military, expanding its influence in country during her long years of incarceration.

While China defended military and expanded its influence during military junta rule, Beijing has emerged influential in Naypyidaw backing Suu Kyi's government after it suffered global alienation over Rohingya crisis.

Myanmar was last country Chinese President Xi Jinping visited in January 2020, just days before dreed coronavirus hit China and later emerged as a global pandemic.

During Xi’s visit on January 17-18 last year, China and Myanmar signed 33 deals covering such areas as politics, tre, investment and people-to-people communications.

main focus of agreements appeared to be on implementation of CMEC which is akin to USD 60 billion-dollar China-Pakistan Ecomic Corridor (CPEC), under which China looks to access Pakistan's Gwar port in Arabian Sea.

CMEC is also a giant connectivity project linking landlocked southwestern China to Indian Ocean. CMEC deal included USD 1.3 billion Kyaukhphyu deep-sea port and ecomic zone.

Analysts say Myanmar is of special significance to Beijing’s geostrategic plans. Kyaukhphyu project concerns India as it provides a stepping stone for China to Indian Ocean.

Besides Gwar, China also acquired Hambantota port in Sri Lanka on a 99-year lease, raising concerns over ory of “String Pearls” to encircle India through Beijing denies such strategic implications.