Beijing, Aug 20: China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, today denounced sanctions against Myanmar which has held democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in detention for almost three months. The UN envoy to Myanmar, Razali Ismail, has urged China to take a bigger role in resolving the crisis over Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, who has been kept in a secret location since a May 30 clash between her supporters and pro-government youths.
Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan told Maung Aye, the visiting commander in chief of Myanmar's Army, that China was against isolating Myanmar, reported China's Communist Party mouthpiece.
''We disagree with foreign countries interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar and we disagree with the imposition of sanctions and isolation of Myanmar,'' it quoted Tang as saying. Washington and the European Union have imposed stiffer sanctions against impoverished Myanmar since Suu Kyi was detained, while key foreign donor Japan has halted new aid.
''We believe the Myanmar government and people have the wisdom and capability to handle relevant issues appropriately and continue to push forward the process of national reconciliation,'' said Tang.
China has a longstanding foreign policy of not interfering in other countries' internal affairs because it does not want foreign intervention in its own affairs. The military has ruled Myanmar since a 1962 coup and rejected a 1990 landslide election victory by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy. Bureau Report