Myanmar Joins China-Led Media Bloc to Boost Global Image

[geovalin]

 

MWD

 

In a move likely to deepen its strategic ties with Beijing, Myanmar’s junta-backed Narrative Think Tank has formally joined the China-led Global South Joint Communication Partnership Program. The agreement, signed in Yangon last Friday, marks a significant step in the regime’s campaign to reshape its international image amid mounting global criticism.

 

The signing ceremony brought together Ko Ko, chair of the Myanmar Narrative Think Tank, and Zhang Dongqiang, chief of Xinhua’s Yangon bureau. According to junta media, the partnership aims to “enhance the image of Myanmar internationally” and contribute to national development through coordinated media efforts.

 

Launched at the BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum in Brazil this July, the Global South initiative is spearheaded by China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency. It seeks to foster collaboration among media organisations and think tanks from emerging economies, promoting what it calls “inclusive globalisation” and a “multipolar world”—a narrative often positioned in contrast to Western influence.

 

Myanmar’s participation comes as its military regime faces continued condemnation for human rights abuses, including documented war crimes. The new alliance with Xinhua—one of six Chinese news agencies operating in the country—signals a pivot toward strategic media diplomacy, leveraging soft power to counter Western sanctions and reputational damage.

 

The Myanmar Narrative Think Tank, established in January 2025 and reportedly overseen by the junta’s Information Ministry, has quickly become a key propaganda vehicle. Its events have featured junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and focused on themes such as post-earthquake recovery and Myanmar’s role in a multipolar world. Founding members include figures with deep ties to military and authoritarian institutions, such as former officers and regime advisors.

 

The timing of the agreement is notable. Min Aung Hlaing is expected to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in China on 31 August, further cementing Myanmar’s alignment with Beijing and Moscow—both major arms suppliers to the regime.

 

While the partnership may offer Myanmar a platform to amplify its preferred narratives, critics argue it risks legitimising a regime accused of widespread atrocities. The international community will be watching closely to see how this media alliance unfolds—and whether it succeeds in reshaping perceptions beyond Myanmar’s borders.

 

 

-2025-08-26

[dinsdale]

CCP's authoritarian dictatorship and Myanmar's military junta. I think this says enough about "image".

[FlorC]

Trump is not going to like it.

He's after their rare earth minerals too...

 

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