Is it for Myanmar or for China?

China supplies military trucks to Burma

Myo Gyi
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

December 6, 2007 - Several military trucks are believed to have been supplied to the Burmese junta by China. They were seen arriving on the Sino-Burmese border town of Ruili this morning, a local eyewitness said.

The light weight medium FAW trucks, manufactured by Chinese owned Tongfeng Company, were seen lining up at Ruili town, a Burmese who works at the car servicing centre told Mizzima.

"The trucks arrived this morning. They are light weight and all of them are of the same design. Since the trucks were dirty, they sent it to us for car wash," the local said.

Another Burmese businessman at Kyegaung town, said the trucks, which are to be sent to the Burmese Amy as the first batch through the Muse-Kyegaung Road, are currently parked in front of the Kyegaung Customs office.

"Yes the trucks are now parked in front of the customs office. There are more than 200 trucks lined up," the businessman told Mizzima.

A source close to the Chinese authorities told Mizzima that about 400 military trucks will be sent to Burma as the first batch and more are expected to be sent later.

He also added that the Chinese authorities in early November sent six rocket carriers trucks through the Kyegaung-Muse Road.

Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Burmese military analyst based on the Sino-Burmese border said, "China has been supplying military trucks regularly. But it has been quite sometime now that they had stopped supplying. But it is again resumed supply."

"It is actually hampering China's image, because it is currently facing a lot of condemnation for supplying the Burmese junta with military hardware. But since China chose to continue supplying amidst mounting pressure, may be it wants to show that it is supporting the Burmese junta openly," added Aung Kyaw Zaw.