Chronological Brief: Russia and China’s Support for the Burmese Military

Mar 4

For decades, the Burmese military (Tatmadaw) has received consistent backing from China and Russia, enabling its brutal military campaigns against ethnic minorities and democracy movements. This support has come in the form of financial aid, military equipment, strategic training, and diplomatic cover, allowing the junta to commit war crimes with impunity. Meanwhile, U.S. policy responses under both the Trump and Biden administrations have evolved, sometimes providing pressure but often failing to curb the junta’s brutality.

This chronological overview details China and Russia’s ongoing role in enabling the Burmese military, Myanmar’s engagement with China before the 2021 coup, and U.S. policy responses over the years.

1988 - The Rise of Military Rule & Early Support

August 8, 1988 (8888 Uprising): The Burmese military massacred thousands of pro-democracy protesters (HRW).
1989 - China Becomes the Primary Military Backer:
- After rebranding as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), the military sought closer ties with China.
- China provided $1.4 billion in military aid, including fighter jets, tanks, and naval ships (BBC).
1990 - Military Ignores Election Results: Despite an overwhelming victory for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), the military refused to hand over power (Amnesty International).

1990s-2000s - Continued Chinese Military and Economic Support

1995 - China Delivers Major Arms Shipment:
- 24 F-7M Airguard jets, Type 69 tanks, and Y-8 military transport aircraft were supplied to Myanmar (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)).
1997 - Advanced Chinese Weapons:
- China provided radar systems and surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) to strengthen Myanmar’s air defense (Reuters).
2000s - More Chinese Naval and Air Power:
- China constructed a naval base at Kyaukpyu to increase Myanmar’s control over the Andaman Sea (Asia Times).

2010s - Russia Expands Military Support

2011 - Thein Sein Government & Russia’s Entry:
- As Myanmar transitioned into a partial democracy, Russia sold MiG-29 fighter jets and attack helicopters to the Tatmadaw (Al Jazeera).
2017 - Rohingya Genocide & Chinese-Russian Endorsement:
- Over 700,000 Rohingya were massacred or forced into exile (UNHCR).
- China and Russia blocked UN resolutions, shielding Myanmar from international accountability (The Guardian).
2018 - Russian MiG-29s and YAK-130 Trainers: Russia supplied six Su-30 fighter jets and YAK-130 trainer aircraft (Defense News).

2019 - Shift in U.S. Policy: From Trump Administration to Biden Administration

During the Trump administration, there was direct engagement with Burma’s ethnic and religious leaders, signaling strong U.S. support for persecuted groups. A significant moment on July 18, 2019 when President Trump met with a Kachin pastor, who shared the horrific persecution faced by ethnic and Christian minorities in Burma at the hands of the Burmese military. This meeting was a clear message that the U.S. recognized and condemned these human rights violations, reinforcing pressure on the Burmese military junta and increasing sanctions against military officials responsible for atrocities. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-meeting-survivors-religious-persecution/

However, with the Biden administration’s shift to a multilateral and diplomatic approach, the Burmese military saw an opportunity to exploit perceived U.S. weakness. In January 2021, high-ranking Burmese military officials traveled to China, meeting with Chinese leaders to secure their backing for a coup. With China’s assurance of financial and diplomatic support, the Burmese military moved forward with its planned overthrow of the democratically elected government, staging the February 1, 2021, coup and detaining key National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders.

Since the coup, China and Russia have become major arms suppliers and political allies of the Burmese military, further empowering them to escalate violence against ethnic minorities, including the Karen and Kachin. This shift has severely worsened the humanitarian crisis and strengthened the military’s grip on power, making renewed U.S. engagement crucial to reversing this trend.

2020 - Myanmar Engages China to Plan Coup

November 2020 - Secret Meetings with China:
- China’s special envoy, Sun Guoxiang, secretly met Myanmar’s military officials, discussing strategic moves before the coup (Foreign Policy).
- China assured the Tatmadaw of diplomatic and economic backing in case of international backlash.
January 2021 - Myanmar’s Military and China Strengthen Ties:
- Min Aung Hlaing met Chinese President Xi Jinping, securing economic and military guarantees for the upcoming coup (The Diplomat).

2021 - Coup d’État & Renewed Foreign Influence

February 1, 2021 - The Coup:
- The Tatmadaw overthrew the elected government, detaining Aung San Suu Kyi.
- China and Russia blocked UN actions, refusing to recognize the coup as illegitimate (CNN).
Russia’s Immediate Military Support:
- Russia supplied attack helicopters, armored vehicles, and advanced weaponry to the junta (BBC).

2021-Present: U.S. Foreign Policy Response

Biden Administration’s Response

Sanctions & Diplomatic Pressure:
- The Biden administration imposed targeted sanctions on Tatmadaw leaders and businesses (U.S. Treasury).

2022-2024 - Escalation of Ethnic Attacks & Full Military Backing

Russia Accelerates Fighter Jet Deliveries:
- Airstrikes on Karen, Kachin, Chin, and other ethnic resistance groups intensified (SIPRI).
China’s Financial Assistance to Prevent Economic Collapse:
- China injected funding into Myanmar’s banking system, stabilizing the junta’s economy (Reuters).
UN Sanctions Blocked by China & Russia:
- Both nations veto further UN actions, ensuring Myanmar’s military retains power (Al Jazeera).

Conclusion

For decades, China and Russia have empowered the Burmese military, fueling ethnic cleansing and military dictatorship. Their continued support, from arms shipments to diplomatic shielding, allows the Tatmadaw to suppress democracy, violate human rights, and target ethnic minorities with impunity.

Meanwhile, U.S. foreign policy has struggled to make a meaningful impact, leaving them with fewer resources to escape the junta’s brutality.

References

Human Rights Watch – World Report on Burma (Myanmar)
- https://www.hrw.org/world-report/1989/country-chapters/burma
BBC – Myanmar Military and China's Strategic Influence
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55902070
Amnesty International – Myanmar Military Coup and Human Rights Violations
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/02/myanmar-military-coup-mass-arrests-and-internet-blackout/
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) – Myanmar’s Arms Deals
- https://www.sipri.org/
Reuters – China's Continued Military Support for Myanmar Junta
- https://www.reuters.com/world/china-backs-myanmar-junta-despite-sanctions-2021-10-19/
Asia Times – Myanmar’s Military and China’s Geopolitical Strategy
- https://asiatimes.com/2021/03/myanmars-coup-leaders-march-to-chinas-tune/
Al Jazeera – Russia's Military Support to Myanmar
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/12/myanmar-military-russia-continue-ties
UNHCR – Myanmar Rohingya Crisis and UN Response
- https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2021/3/6068e4a34/unhcr-urges-action-myanmar-rohingya-crisis.html
The Guardian – UN Accuses Myanmar Army of War Crimes
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/10/un-accuses-myanmar-army-war-crimes
Defense News – Myanmar’s Su-30 Fighter Jet Acquisitions from Russia

https://www.defensenews.com/global/2021/09/15/myanmar-receives-russian-su-30-fighter-jets/
11. Foreign Policy – China’s Role in Myanmar’s Military Coup