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Monday, February 17, 2025
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China blocked UN condemnation of Myanmar coup

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Daily US Times: China has blocked a United Nations Security Council statement condemning the military coup in Myanmar.

Myanmar’s military took power of the country on Monday after arresting political leader Aung San Suu Kyi and hundreds of other lawmakers.

Military leaders have since formed a new supreme council that will be above the cabinet.

In Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon though, civil disobedience and signs of resistance have been growing.

The UN Security Council met on Tuesday but failed to agree on a joint statement after China blocked it.

A joint statement would have needed China’s support which holds veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council.

Ahead of the talks, Christine Schraner, the UN’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, had strongly condemned the military takeover which came after the army refused to accept the outcome of general elections held in November.

She said it was clear that “the recent outcome of the election was a landslide victory” for Ms Suu Kyi’s NLD party.

Myanmar expert Elliott Prasse-Freeman of the National University of Singapore told the BBC: “Through this foreign policy equivalent of gaslighting, China seems to be signalling its tacit support, it not emphatic endorsement, for the generals’ actions.”

Aung San Suu Kyi has not been seen since she was detained by the military on Monday morning. Dozens of other top government officials also remain detained, including President Win Myint.

On Tuesday, her National League for Democracy (NLD) demanded her immediate release. The party has also called upon the military to accept the results of the November election, which saw the NLD win more than 80% of the votes.

You may read: Coup: US threatens sanctions over Aung San Suu Kyi detention

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