Amid China's funding to Myanmar Junta's resistance groups, call for halting Chinese copper mines
Apr 25, 2022
Beijing [China], April 25 : Amid China's funding to Myanmar's junta, resistance forces have given a collective warning to the Chinese-run copper mines in Salingyi to halt their operations and join the civil disobedience movement (CDM) by May 5.
Salingyi is home to the Chinese-run Letpadaung, Sapetaung, and Kyesintaung copper mines and resistance groups in Salingyi and Yinmabin are raising their voice against the joint ventures of China and Myanmar's military, reported The irrawaddy.
People are displaying their dismay with China and Myanmar's junta collaboration as they continue to fight to uproot the dictatorship. The resistance groups said they will attack all sources of funding for the dictatorship with any means.
In January, resistance fighters blew up electricity pylons supplying the China-backed Tagaung Taung nickel-processing plant in Sagaing Region, which forced production to halt.
Since the coup, Chinese projects have been largely safe despite the resistance forces' attacks on police and soldiers guarding some Chinese projects. But the collective announcement on Thursday was the first open warning to Chinese projects in the country.
The three Chinese mines are run by Wanbao Mining, Ltd. and its two subsidiaries, Myanmar Wanbao Mining Copper, Ltd. and Myanmar Yang Tse Copper, Ltd. in partnership with the military-owned Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd, as per the media outlet.
A report by Publish What You Pay Australia, a coalition of 30 organizations campaigning for transparency and accountability in the extractive industries, said that the Chinese-backed mines were financially propping up the junta.
The report, How Chinese Mining Investment Funds the Myanmar Military, released in November last year, said the Chinese-run Letpadaung, Sapetaung and Kyesintaung, and Tagaung Taung mines in Sagaing paid an estimated USD 725 million to the military during the 2020-21 financial year.
Wanbao is a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned defense firm China North Industries Corporation. In July 2021, the US sanctioned Wanbao Mining and its entities for supporting Myanmar's military regime.
