Chinese Company Allegedly Assists Myanmar Military with Bomb Production

A recent report alleges that a state-owned Chinese corporation is playing a significant role in enabling Myanmar's military regime to manufacture aerial bombs used against both insurgents and civilians. The findings come as the military junta increasingly leans on Beijing for support amid ongoing internal conflict.

The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M), an independent organization established by former United Nations officials, published the report titled Factory of Death: China's Support for the Myanmar Military's Production of Aerial Bombs. It details the connections between the China South Industries Corporation, commonly referred to as China South, and the DI 21 weapons factory located in central Myanmar's Magway region.

The report indicates that China South, along with its subsidiary Hunan Vanguard, has been crucial in setting up most of the production lines at DI 21. This has involved sending engineers into Myanmar, training local staff in China, and supplying essential components required for bomb manufacturing. Additionally, the Chinese company reportedly continues to offer remote technical support to the factory.

According to SAC-M, the junta's defense capabilities are heavily reliant on foreign materials, particularly micro-electronics, which are vital for the bomb components produced at DI 21. The report highlights that the bombs produced with Chinese assistance are being used in indiscriminate attacks against civilian populations.

Yanghee Lee, a former UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar and a co-founder of SAC-M, emphasized the need for China to halt its military support to the junta. She stated that by providing aerial bombs and technical assistance, China South is complicit in severe violations against civilians.

The report notes that the Myanmar military has resorted to airstrikes as it has lost significant control over various regions since the military coup in 2021. The junta claims these strikes target terrorist organizations, but many observers have raised doubts about this narrative. A particularly devastating airstrike in 2023 on the village of Pa Zi Gyi resulted in significant civilian casualties, including many children, according to UN reports.

The frequency of airstrikes has reportedly increased, with SAC-M documenting over 750 airstrikes across 11 regions in the last four months of 2023 alone, averaging six strikes per day. This escalation underscores the reliance of the junta on aerial bombardment as a primary tactic in its ongoing conflict.

Khin Ohmar, a peace and security advocate from Myanmar, argues that the report provides further evidence of China's interference in the country's affairs. She asserts that China's arms industry is facilitating the junta's bombings, which have resulted in civilian casualties, including those of internally displaced people and vulnerable populations.

Despite international sanctions imposed by the EU, US, UK, and Canada on Myanmar's military regime, China's support has appeared to strengthen, especially following the devastating earthquake in Myanmar in March. Recent meetings between Myanmar's junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, and Chinese President Xi Jinping have raised concerns about China's increasing influence over the junta.

Experts note that China's ongoing military and economic support may further entrench the junta's position during a tumultuous period for Myanmar. As the conflict continues, the implications of foreign involvement in the military's operations remain a critical concern for human rights advocates and international observers.