July 22, 2024
China’s involvement in Myanmar’s electoral affairs has intensified in 2024, according to a July 21 report from the Burma Affairs & Conflict Study (BACS). The report highlights increased interactions between Chinese officials and Myanmar’s military-appointed election commission, military leaders, former military leaders, and political party leaders.
On April 26, 2024, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar H.E. Mr. Chen Hai met with the chairman of Myanmar’s election commission to discuss election processes, voter registration, and potential bilateral cooperation. This meeting was part of a broader series of engagements between Chinese and Myanmar officials.
In late June, former Myanmar President U Thein Sein visited China and met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. During this meeting, discussions included efforts to support military leader Min Aung Hlaing in his bid for a transitional government and eventual elections, as reported by Singapore-based CNA.
On July 4, Min Aung Hlaing also met with Chen Hai to discuss preparations for the elections. Additionally, the report notes that Vice Chief of Staff Soe Win visited China from July 6, holding discussions about election preparations with Chinese officials, including Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Ms. Shen Yueyue.
Furthermore, on July 8, Chinese Communist Party representatives at the Chinese Embassy in Yangon extended invitations to delegates from four Myanmar political parties—Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), People’s Party (PP), Arakan Front Party (AFP), and Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP)—for a study tour in China from July 20 to 27.
During the week of July 6 to 12, the military-appointed election commission conducted six election-related activities, including two voter registration management workshops, one test of the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), two political party activities, and one voter list management activity.
Political party activities included rejecting re-registration applications from veteran Kachin National Congress Party (KNC) and the Democracy and Human Rights Party, which had won four seats in the 1990 elections. These rejections were justified under Article 6 for KNC and Article 5 for the Democracy and Human Rights Party, as per the Political Parties Registration Law.
BACS is monitoring the military regime’s efforts to hold elections, the activities of political parties under the regime’s control, and related demographic management information.
These activities indicate China’s increasing engagement in Myanmar’s political processes, particularly regarding the upcoming elections. China’s involvement has raised questions about the legitimacy and influence of Myanmar’s military-led election process.
