“This seafood? Sent Great Firewall of China” Photo of Myanmar shaking

The Financial Times (FT) reported on the 12th (local time) that the anti-Chinese sentiment of the people of Myanmar is expanding nationwide. Suspicion has been raised that China is trying to support Myanmar with the so-called’Great Firewall’ Internet control system technology. The military regime in Myanmar has also raised concerns from the international community by pushing for a social media (SNS) censorship bill. Protesters have been protesting in front of Chinese and Russian embassies since the 10th.

The suspicion was raised on the 9th as a photo spread on social media. This is a picture of a Chinese cargo plane standing on the runway of both airports.. Myanmar netizens spread the freighter’s route and flight number, claiming that “five Chinese freighters departing from Kunming, Yunnan Province, arrived at Yangon Airport, and IT experts and communication equipment to pass on the Great Firewall technology would have come down.” After the coup, virtually all foreign aircraft were banned from landing at Yangon Airport, while only Chinese cargo planes landed, further spreading the suspicion.

The Chinese embassy immediately told Facebook, “This cargo plane is a regular cargo plane that imports and exports seafood.”He denied the allegations.

OK Another photo spread on social media, saying, “Is this a seafood?” This is a picture of a box the size of a person’s height in a protective color (green, which is mainly used in military uniforms) being moved from a cargo plane. While the authenticity of the photo has not been confirmed, a famous democratic activist in Myanmar also posted related photos on Twitter, claiming that “weapons have arrived.” Myanmar’s democratic activist who has studied Rohingya persecution and slaughter Dr. Maung Jani claimed that “Min Aung Hlaing purchased an air-to-air missile from another dictator,” and that “the missile has arrived in Yangon.”

Amidst deteriorating public opinion, China’s state-run Global Times reiterated the clarification of the Chinese embassy in Myanmar on the 13th that “the cargo plane is a regular flight that carries aquatic products and there is no basis for any suspicion.” As if conscious of public opinion in Myanmar, the Chinese embassy emphasized, “China is a friendly neighbor to Myanmar, and it is playing a constructive role in bringing Myanmar’s politics back to normal through dialogue.” The Global Times accused the unfounded rumors of spreading through Western media such as the BBC and Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts.

On the 11th, the military ministry of Myanmar announced the draft’punitive cybersecurity bill’. According to FT, the contents of the draft are as follows: Myanmar’s online service providers are required to store users’ data for three years in a place designated by the government, and in case of threats to Myanmar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, it is required by law to hand over the information to the authorities. Individuals who violate the law can face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $7500.

Myanmar’s Facebook subscribers are 21 million, or 40% of Myanmar’s citizens. Supreme Commander Min Aung Hlaing, who came to power in the coup, ordered the news agency on the first weekend of the anti-coup protest to cut off access to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and to stop accessing Internet services. Myanmar protesters connected to SNS through a bypass program to inform the outside of the Myanmar protest situation.

Reporter Jeong Eun-hye [email protected]