Myammar's military government chief has first meeting with China's leader since taking power in 2021
BANGKOK (AP) — The chief of Myanmar's military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has for the first time since seizing power four years ago met with President Xi Jinping of China, a top ally of his military government, state-run media in the Southeast Asian nation reported Saturday.
The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that Xi pledged to provide assistance for recovery after Myanmar's devastating earthquake in March and aid in efforts to end the country's civil war. The two leaders met Friday in Moscow on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Its report said they also discussed 'bilateral relations, enhancing cooperation in all sectors, and cooperating in regional stability and peace.'
Cooperation discussed as Beijing seeks to shore up military government
China has been using its influence with ethnic rebel organizations to ease their pressure on the military government in an apparent effort to stabilize it.
China, along with Russia, is a major arms supplier to Myanmar's military in its war against pro-democracy and ethnic minority resistance forces. Beijing is also Myanmar's biggest trading partner and has invested billions of dollars in mines, oil and gas pipelines, and other infrastructure. Its interests in security in Myanmar are especially strong because the two nations share an 890-mile (1,440-kilometer) border
China's government has maintained good working relations with Myanmar's ruling military, which is shunned and sanctioned by many Western nations for the army's February 2021 takeover from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and for major human rights violations.
It is also one of the countries providing major relief and reconstruction assistance after the 7.7-magnitude March 28 earthquake that killed more than 3,700 people in Myanmar and injured more than 5,100.
The quake worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis, with more than 3 million people displaced from their homes and nearly 20 million in need due to the war, according to the United Nations.
Beijing has been concerned about instability that threatens its interests in Myanmar since Myanmar's army suffered unprecedented battlefield defeats over the past few years, especially in areas near the Chinese border.
An offensive began in October 2023, by the ' Three Brotherhood Alliance, ' comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, was able to quickly capture towns and overrun military bases and command centers and strategic cities along the Chinese border in northeastern Shan state.
It was widely seen at the time as having Beijing's tacit support to help stamp out rampant organized crime activities in areas controlled by ethnic Chinese.
In early 2024, Beijing helped broker a ceasefire, but that quickly fell apart when the alliance launched new attacks. Myanmar's ruling generals and China's government showed concern as pro-democracy guerrillas and armed ethnic minority groups, sometimes working hand in hand, gained the initiative in fighting.
Beijing put pressure on rebel groups to yield key captured town
The alliance's offensive lost momentum after China shut down border crossings, cut electricity to Myanmar towns and took other measures to discourage the fighting.
Under increasing pressure from Beijing, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, withdrew its forces and administration authorities last month from the strategically important town of Lashio in northeastern Myanmar, which hosts a major regional military headquarters but which the rebel group seized in August last year.
A member of the MNDAA told The Associated Press on Saturday that the army's soldiers had already re-entered and and reestablished themselves in bases inside the town at the end of April. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information.
Tar Pan La and Lway Yay Oo, spokespersons for the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, said during an online press conference on May 4 that local residents had been facing difficulties as China and Myanmar's military government blocked trade into areas it controlled.
Tar Pan La said China had continuously urged the group both in person and through messages to avoid clashes along the border and areas of Chinese investments.
The TNLA said in a statement released on its Telegram channel on Saturday that the military carries out daily airstrikes in areas it controls, although it extended until the end of May a ceasefire it declared in the wake of the earthquake.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
General Caine Faces His First Big Test Under Trump
In President Trump's view, generals are chest-thumping, tough-talking cheerleaders for the military and the operations he, as commander in chief, orders them to carry out. It's a view that often puts the senior military officers who serve under him in an impossible position. On Thursday morning, it fell to Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to meet Mr. Trump's expectations without politicizing the institution he serves. He did it by painting an earnest, at times florid, picture of the men and women involved in the attack this weekend on Iran's nuclear site at Fordo, and largely sidestepping the question of how successful the strike had been. General Caine's first big test began with a preliminary report from the Defense Intelligence Agency this week suggesting that the attack at the site and two others in Iran had set back the country's nuclear program by only a few months, according to officials familiar with the findings. News about that report infuriated Mr. Trump, who described the strikes in social media posts as 'legendary' and insisted that Iran's nuclear sites had been 'obliterated.' At the Pentagon on Thursday, Mr. Hegseth spent 10 minutes excoriating reporters as unpatriotic and 'irresponsible.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Prepared, not paranoid: What you need to know to protect yourself from a possible terror attack
In times like this, you hear the concern from your neighbors. You talk about it with people at the gym. It's the topic of conversation over morning coffee — from small towns to big cities — "Are we going to see an increase in terror attacks here at home?" Now, there are news that Iranian "sleeper cells" pose a dangerous threat. Such cells could carry out attacks on U.S. citizens in retaliation for recent military operations in Iran, it's understandable that Americans are feeling concerned for their safety here at home. People are on edge. If they're not already in a heightened state of awareness, they're at least tuned in — watching the headlines and scrolling through a stream of opinions on social media. This isn't about fear or paranoia. It's a moment to pause and remember: Attacks have happened on U.S. soil before. The truth is there are people who want to harm our country and disrupt our way of life. We've seen these attacks play out — some tied to foreign groups, others carried out by lone attackers inspired by skewed ideologies. Pearl Harbor. 9/11. The Boston Marathon bombing. The Pensacola Naval Air Station shooting. More recently, the Jewish Museum shooting in D.C. Moments like this — especially after international military operations — ignite fears of retaliation. They spark conversations at home, at work, and everywhere in between. With Iranian threats and elevated homeland security alerts making headlines, it's easy to feel uneasy. But fear isn't a strategy — awareness and preparedness are. Social media is one of the greatest modern tools — or the worst — depending on who you ask. It has the power to inform, empower and engage. You can get access to information from some of the world's most influential people — directly from them. But not everything you read online is true. And with AI now capable of generating fake images and audio, misinformation is even harder to spot. While we could talk all day about how narratives shape perception, here are steps to help you stay informed: 1. Follow reputable sources. Federal, state and local government platforms are often your best source of accurate updates. Your local police, sheriff and state patrol agencies routinely push out alerts. If you're not already following them, do that now. Also follow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for terrorism alerts, travel advisories, cyber warnings and more. The State Department offers "know before you go" tips for international travel. 2. Subscribe to credentialed news organizations. Major outlets with national security and White House teams often have 24/7 coverage and access to decision-makers. 3. Be cautious of influencers with agendas. Everyone has a platform — but not everyone deserves your trust. Some creators spark engagement, not share truth. Be critical. Vet what you consume. Being alert doesn't require a badge or training. It just requires a decision to pay attention. Many victims of crime or violence are simply too distracted by screens or conversations to notice danger signs. 1. Put the phone down. Your phone is a powerful tool — and your biggest distraction. Whether you're driving, walking or in a crowd, looking down at your screen can cause you to miss warning signs. Talk to your teens too. We can't escape a connected world, but we can move through it smarter. 2. "See something, say something." Trust your gut. If something feels off, speak up. Teach your kids to do the same. A person acting strangely. A vehicle parked out of place. A bag left unattended. Report it. Law enforcement would rather investigate something small than miss something big. If you live in an urban area, encourage neighbors to do the same. Neighborhood Watch programs have been stopping crimes for decades with basic awareness. 3. Mentally rehearse the unexpected. Your brain performs better in a crisis when it's already run the scenario. That's why we practiced fire drills in school. Same principle. Whether you're at a concert, grocery store or your workplace — know your exits. Think about where you'd go. It's not paranoia. It's preparation. 4. Learn "Run, Hide, Fight." This DHS-endorsed model gives civilians a plan for surviving active threats. The guides are free and simple. Download them. Talk through them with your family. That's how you reduce panic and improve survival odds. Law enforcement agencies at every level — local, state and federal — are working together like never before. Real-time intelligence-sharing systems, joint task forces and powerful technologies are helping prevent threats before they happen. Even when we don't see it, the work is happening. 1. Increased patrols in vulnerable areas. Nationwide, police departments are stepping up patrols near houses of worship, cultural centers and critical infrastructure — not just in response to specific threats, but out of caution and commitment. You may not always see them, but trained professionals are on the job. 2. Technology-driven operations. Many cities now operate real-time crime centers, where agencies use facial recognition, license plate readers and integrated systems to track threats and alert officers instantly. This work doesn't make headlines, but it prevents attacks. Sure, overseas missions are for the military. But here at home, safety is a shared responsibility. You don't need a uniform, a badge or fear to be prepared. Many victims of crime or violence are simply too distracted by screens or conversations to notice danger signs. Stay informed. Stay aware. Speak up. Have a plan. Because the best time to build resilience isn't during a crisis — it's before one ever begins. Whether you're walking Main Street or living in a high-rise downtown, safety isn't just about what happens to you. It's about how you respond when it does. If high-profile threats lead to meaningful conversations, let those conversations center around preparedness — not panic. Because when enough of us prepare, the ripple effect can be powerful.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Top US general says roughly 15 years of planning to defeat Iran's most fortified nuclear site centered on this massive 30,000-pound bomb
US Air Force B-2 stealth aircraft dropped 14 heavy bunker-buster bombs on Iran's nuclear facilities. A top US general on Wednesday offered a discussion of the development of the GBU-57. The bomb, known as the MOP, was developed for targets like the Fordow uranium enrichment site. The massive 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs dropped on Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend were developed to attack these kinds of targets, the top US general said Wednesday, revealing that the military spent a decade and a half closely studying Tehran's most fortified site. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the lengthy development of the heavy GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, offering a look into elements of the making of the US military's largest non-nuclear bomb. During Operation Midnight Hammer, US Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped 14 MOPs, a dozen of them on the Fordow enrichment site and two more on the one at Natanz. The strikes, part of a highly secretive and complex operation, were years in the making. Back in 2009, unidentified officers with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, which specializes in deeply buried underground targets, were briefed on a major construction project in Iran — specifically Fordow, which Caine described as a "critical element" of Tehran's covert nuclear weapons program. The DTRA officers studied the Fordow site, which is built into a mountain, closely for years. Caine said they eventually realized that the US didn't have a weapon that could be used to attack the facility, so they started working with the defense industry partners like Boeing and Northrop Grumman to further develop the MOP. The bomb was part of a DTRA technology demonstration program until 2010, when the weapon became a part of the Air Force's Quick Reaction Capability Program, per the air service. The massive bomb was tested hundreds of times. Many full-scale munitions were dropped on "extremely" realistic targets with the goal of having a weapon that the US could use against Fordow at a time and place of its choosing, Caine explained. That day came just a few days ago, when President Donald Trump ordered the B-2s to bomb Fordow. The extremely heavy MOP is around 20.5 feet long and has a diameter of 31.5 inches. The warhead alone weighs 6,000 pounds, and it can penetrate deeply buried facilities up to around 200 feet deep. The B-2 is the only operational aircraft that can carry the weapon, storing two internally to preserve stealth. Caine said that the MOP is made of steel, explosives, and a fuse programmed to achieve a specific effect inside Fordow. Each bomb had a unique impact angle, arrival, final heading, and fuse setting, which determines when the weapon would explode. A longer fuse creates a delay, meaning the MOP can penetrate deeper into the target before it explodes. Fordow had sets of three holes — a main exhaust shaft and two additional ventilation shafts — visible on the surface. Caine said that in the days leading up to the attack, Iran attempted to cover the shafts with concrete. Talking about one target point, which was hit with six of the large GBU-57 bunker-busters, Caine said that the first MOP "forcibly removed" the concrete cap, exposing the main shaft. The next four MOPs entered that shaft, traveling toward critical Fordow facilities at speeds faster than 1,000 feet per second and exploding inside. The sixth bomb dropped was a flexible option if something didn't work the way it was intended. "Unlike a normal surface bomb, you won't see an impact crater, because they're designed to deeply bury and then function," he said. Satellite imagery showed the holes where the MOPs penetrated the surface at Fordow, but not a substantial impact crater at the site. Caine said all six weapons dropped on the vents went where they were meant to go. He shared that the "primary kill mechanism" at the site was a mixture of blast and overpressure, which would have ripped through the open tunnels and destroyed critical hardware. He said the US military does not really do battle damage assessments, noting that "by design, we don't grade our own homework — the intelligence community does." However, he did say that the big MOPs were built, tested, and loaded properly; released from the B-2s properly; navigated to their intended targets as intended, and functioned as designed, "meaning they exploded." "We know this through other means — intelligence means — that we have, that we were visibly able to see them," Caine explained. The Trump administration has touted the strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — the latter being a third nuclear facility that US forces targeted over the weekend with Tomahawk cruise missiles — as a major success, with top officials asserting that Iran's ability to build a bomb was set back years. Israel's Atomic Energy Commission has offered a similar assessment. Rafael Grossi, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief, said that Iran's nuclear facilities suffered significant damage, although he said using the term annihilation would be a step too far. He also said the whereabouts of Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium — which is needed to make a weapon — is unknown. Reports suggest it was hidden ahead of the US strikes. An early US intelligence report indicated that the US strikes may have only set Iran's nuclear program back by months, not years. Some analysts have also questioned the effectiveness of the recent strikes, with some observers suggesting Tehran could quickly rebuild damaged infrastructure and enrich its highly enriched uranium stock to the weapons-grade levels needed to make a bomb. Read the original article on Business Insider
