Media council members and journalists have criticized military council leader Min Aung Hlaing for making confused statements that incorrectly linked economic sanctions with computer software during a press conference in Belarus. At the March 7 press conference, Min Aung Hlaing claimed that when faced with sanctions, computer software would somehow gain more collective strength and increase competition – a statement that demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of both concepts.
U Toe Zaw Latt, Secretary of the Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM), analyzed that Min Aung Hlaing appeared to have spoken without properly understanding the meaning of economic sanctions and computer software, noting that these two concepts have absolutely no relation to each other. Additionally, a veteran domestic journalist pointed out that similar to how former leader Thein Sein had previously misused terms regarding the 2008 Constitution, Min Aung Hlaing now demonstrated a clear misunderstanding by incorrectly connecting sanctions with software terminology, resulting in statements that made no logical sense.
It was observed that Min Aung Hlaing was unable to speak English during his meetings with Russian leader Putin and the Belarus President, relying entirely on interpreters while speaking only in Myanmar language. Furthermore, during his March 4 meeting with Putin, he presented a book claiming Putin was predicted in Buddhist prophecies, despite lacking historical evidence or documentation. Critics note that his confused statements about sanctions, combined with his inability to communicate directly in international settings and his presentation of unsubstantiated claims, demonstrate his significant limitations in understanding international affairs and proper diplomatic conduct.
