On June 7, Myanmar expatriates staged a protest in front of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations in New York City, demonstrating against China’s interference in Myanmar’s affairs. The protest was organized by Myanmar pro-democracy activists and New York-based Myanmar organizations. The demonstration was prompted by China’s explicit support for the military council and its continued interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs.
The protesters demanded that the Chinese government refrain from recognizing and supporting the military council’s planned sham elections, immediately cease providing weapons and technical assistance to the Myanmar military, and stand with the Myanmar people’s aspirations for democracy and human rights. China has been notably increasing its involvement in Myanmar’s situation, pressuring ethnic armed organizations to avoid military confrontations with the military council, and encouraging them to engage in dialogue at the negotiating table with the regime.
Furthermore, protesters highlighted China’s efforts to pressure ethnic armed organizations to return territories under their control to the military council, as well as its actions that appear to legitimize the military’s coup. The demonstrators emphasized that China’s actions contradict the will of the Myanmar people and only serve to sustain the military dictatorship. They strongly condemned these interventions, stating that such actions by China only help perpetuate the military’s oppressive rule while disregarding the democratic aspirations of Myanmar’s citizens.
