Aung San Suu Kyi wants to realign defense relationship with western countries

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Under the leadership of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar has been working to align itself with the West to the consternation of China learned GDC citing Global Times.

Royal Thai Air Force operates high-end Gripen and American F-16 fighters jets, and recently Bangladesh declared intention to sign GSOMIA with the US triggered Myanmar to knock the door of Japan and South Korea to help its Air Force arming with modern FA-50 fighter jets and second hands Japanese F-2 fighters reports military news sites such as Defense World and Flight Global. Myanmar Military has been in war with various ethnic groups, surrounds by Thailand, China, India and Bangladesh.

Myanmar is allegedly negotiating with South Korea to procure a squadron of FA-50 and KM-SAM medium range surface-to-air missiles, reported by Khmeer times.

Southeast Asian country Myanmar, the military sites noted, are closely aligned with China, Russia and India politically. Myanmar currently imports all military equipment from Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Belarus, Israel, Serbia and Ukraine. Myanmar would be inclined to add South Korea and Japan as suppliers of military equipment could give an edge over Bangladesh.

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (centre), accompanied by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, reviews a guard of honor before their meeting at the state guest house in Tokyo, Japan on Nov 2, 2016.
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (centre), accompanied by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, reviews a guard of honor before their meeting at the state guest house in Tokyo, Japan on Nov 2, 2016.

Japan pledged 800 billion yen ($10.7 billion) in aid to Myanmar over five years, of which 5 per cent will go towards aiding the ethnic minorities in the country’s conflict-torn regions. Japan has over 300 firms operating in Myanmar, having not imposed any trade or financial sanctions during years of military rule.

The package was announced after an hour-long meeting last night between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Myanmar de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was in Tokyo on a five-day introductory visit.

“We hope the aid will help spread the fruit of peace-building to various regions in Myanmar,” Mr Abe said at a joint news conference with Ms Suu Kyi after the meeting.

Recently, Japanese and South Korean companies are heavily investing in Myanmar’s infrastructure and readymade garments industry to counter Chinese influence in Myanmar. European Union recently announced $1.2 billion funds to help Myanmar grow its readymade garments industry.

KM-SAM

Myanmar already operates several types of Chinese aircraft, including the Nanchang Q-5 ground attack planes, Shenyang J-7 interceptors, JF-17, MiG-29 and recently ordered Su-30SME.

A few months ago, the MAF commissioned 12 Russian Yak-130 advanced jet trainers, and 12 Sino-Pac JF-17 in addition to the Chinese Hongdu JL-8/K-8 trainers on its inventory.

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