Wang Yi Concludes Myanmar Visit — China Pledges to 'Firmly Support' Junta Sovereignty; Trade and Security Cooperation Expanded

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded his two-day visit to Naypyidaw on April 26, 2026, meeting with junta Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe following his April 25 meeting with President Min Aung Hlaing. Wang Yi's visit — his final stop on a five-nation Southeast Asia tour encompassing Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar — produced concrete bilateral commitments that went beyond symbolic endorsement. China pledged to 'firmly support Myanmar in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity' — diplomatic language providing direct backing for the junta's security operations including the martial law expansion announced two days prior. The two sides agreed to expand bilateral trade and investments in the electricity, oil and gas sectors; strengthen joint efforts to 'eradicate the scourge' of online gambling and telecommunications fraud scam compounds on the border (a longstanding Chinese demand); and deepen security cooperation. South China Morning Post reported China's explicit backing of Myanmar's push to ease diplomatic isolation — directly counter to the isolation strategies of the US, EU, and major democracies. Wang Yi's visit occurred while the SAC was simultaneously: expanding martial law across 60 townships (April 24-25), conducting drone strikes killing 8+ civilians in Karenni and Magway (April 25-26), and recapturing Falam through heavy air assault (April 25-26). CGTN's state media coverage of Wang Yi's meeting with FM Tin Maung Swe framed the visit as cementing 'pauk-phaw' fraternal ties. Resistance media and Western analysts condemned the visit as providing China's imprimatur for escalating junta violence.