Min Aung Hlaing meets Xi Jinping in China
China’s President Xi Jinping on Tuesday endorsed the political leadership of Burma’s military regime leader Min Aung Hlaing, who was inaugurated president by a pro-military parliament on April 10, as the two met in Beijing to map out the future development of bilateral ties. Min Aung Hlaing is in China June 15-19, which is his second trip abroad since he tightened his grip on power following elections that ended in January.
“Beijing prioritises its ties with Naypyidaw as part of its diplomacy strategy with neighbouring nations,” Chinese state news reported President Xi saying to Min Aung Hlaing in a closed-door meeting held at the Great Hall of the People that lasted for less than an hour. He affirmed his support for the current military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) administration.
“I am willing to continue strengthening our leadership, carry forward the brotherly friendship between our two peoples, [and] deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation,” President Xi told Min Aung Hlaing, the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. President Xi also spoke about making greater contributions to regional peace and development through its bilateral ties with Burma. Read more
Over 500 male workers ‘forcibly’ conscripted
The Myanmar Industries, Crafts and Services Trade Unions Federation (MICS-TUsF), a group advocating for workers’ rights, told DVB that it has received 534 requests for assistance involving male workers aged 18-35, who have been forcibly conscripted while traveling to or from work, or near their workplaces, since the conscription law was enforced in 2024. Most cases have been reported from industrial zones located in Yangon.
Thet Hnin Aung, the MICS-TUsF general secretary, told DVB that many of the reported workers became unreachable after being allegedly taken for conscription. He has helped secure the release of around 180 workers of those reported missing by their families. The regime has conscripted nearly 120,000 males in 24 intakes, but sources told DVB that around 12 per cent have been allowed to return home after completing their service.
Labor groups told DVB that they are calling on the International Labour Organization (ILO) to take stronger action against the regime in Naypyidaw over forced conscription and labor rights violations. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) stated that Naypyidaw has increased the abduction and forced conscription of youth across the country, calling it “stealing a generation” over the last two years.
Military to retake vital Myanmar-India border trade route
Residents of Sagaing Region’s Kalay Township told DVB that regime forces have sent reinforcements to Yazagyo village after retaking it from the People’s Defence Force (PDF) on Saturday, adding that it wants to regain control of Khampat town, located 23 miles (37 km) north of Yazagyo. Khampat, 176 miles (283 km) northwest of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa, was seized by the PDF under National Unity Government (NUG) command in 2023.
Regime media reported on June 14 that the military counteroffensive aims to regain control over the 81-mile (130 km) long Kalay-Tamu road which is a vital trade route into northeastern India’s Moreh town in Manipur State. Min Aung Hlaing and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed security concerns regarding the 870-mile (1,400 km) India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral (IMTT) Highway that connects Moreh to Mae Sot, Thailand, via Burma during a meeting in New Delhi on June 1.
The Yinmabin-Salingyi Strike Force told DVB that the Kalay-Tamu road is “vital” to the resistance’s logistics. A request for comment from the PDF in Tamu town by DVB went unanswered due to ongoing fighting between resistance and regime forces. The NUG administers Sagaing’s Khampat, Shwe Pyi Aye, Myothit and Pinlebu towns, and partially controls Tamu. Regime forces regained control of Mawlu town on May 5, and Indaw town on April 30 from the NUG/PDF.
News by Region
ARAKAN—Residents of Ponnagyun Township told DVB that 11 people died after a motorboat transporting 35 passengers from Rathedaung to Kyauktaw towns capsized near the coast of Ponnagyun town on Tuesday. Ponnagyun, located 20 miles (32 km) north of the state capital Sittwe, was seized by the Arakan Army (AA) in 2024.
Ponnagyun residents said that 24 passengers survived but urged local authorities to provide life jackets to motorboat operators. At least 10 passengers died when a motorboat capsized in Minbya Township on May 12. Minbya is located 110 miles (177 km) north of Sittwe and 156 miles (251 km) southwest of Ponnagyun.
SAGAING—Two PDF members have been killed during fighting with the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) in Shwe Pyi Aye town last week. Homalin Township, located 340 miles (547 km) north of the region’s capital Monywa, has been contested by the PDF and pro-regime forces since it was seized in 2023.
An unknown number of residents from at least eight villages have fled their homes in Shwe Pyi Aye since a pro-regime counteroffensive began this month. All gates into the town have been closed by the PDF. Starlink internet access has been restricted since June 10, according to Homalin residents.
SHAN—Four people were executed by firing squad in Laukkai, the capital of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone (SAZ) in northern Shan, on June 13. The four were reportedly convicted of murder from 2023-25 by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), local news reported.
A total of seven people, including the four executed, were tried in public. Three received prison sentences from 7-12 years. One was given a two-year suspended death sentence, but no further details were provided. A total of 10 people were executed by the MNDAA in 2024–25, according to reports.
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