Justice For Myanmar criticises Vietnam over deepening ties with Myanmar junta

By Admin 05 Sep 2026

DMG Newsroom
5 September 2026, Yangon

Justice For Myanmar (JFM) has criticised Vietnam for inviting Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing on an official visit, accusing Hanoi of deepening its involvement with the military regime through business, defence and technology ties.

Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to visit Vietnam from September 4-6 and attend a Myanmar-Vietnam business forum. JFM said in a September 3 statement that the trip continues longstanding ties between Vietnam and the Myanmar military in telecommunications, aviation fuel, military equipment and training.

A major focus of JFM's criticism is telecom operator Mytel, a joint venture involving Viettel Global Investment, which is owned by Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence, and the Myanmar military conglomerate Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC).

Citing its earlier analysis of confidential profit projections, JFM said the Myanmar military could be entitled to more than US$700 million in dividends over 10 years from its stake in Mytel. The group also alleges that Mytel serves military and surveillance purposes in addition to generating revenue for the military.

JFM said Viettel Global's financial statements as of June 30 show that Mytel owes it VND 9.8 trillion, or about US$375 million, in overdue loans. Despite this, Viettel Global's board approved participation in Mytel's 2600 MHz spectrum auction in June, according to the statement.

The statement also noted that Min Aung Hlaing met Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung in Naypyidaw on August 26 and pledged continued support for Mytel and other Vietnamese businesses. At a Vietnam-Myanmar Joint Committee meeting the same day, the two sides agreed to increase defence and security cooperation through training, delegation visits and exchanges involving young officers.

JFM further alleged that Vietnamese companies have been involved in supply chains for aviation fuel and military communications equipment to Myanmar.

The group cited Hai Linh Co. Ltd., operator of the Cai Mep Petroleum Terminal, which Amnesty International previously identified as having been used to transship aviation fuel destined for Myanmar. JFM also named Allsea Management JSC and Legendsea Co. Ltd. in connection with a vessel that delivered aviation fuel to Myanmar in 2024.

In addition, JFM said Vietnamese company OSB Investment and Technology JSC and its Myanmar partner Terabit Wave have supplied satellite communications equipment and capacity to the Myanmar military since 2014.

JFM called for sanctions against companies and individuals it says provide the junta with funds, equipment and aviation fuel, and urged Vietnam to end transfers of military equipment, technology and funds to Myanmar's military authorities.

“Justice For Myanmar condemns Vietnam’s decision to award false legitimacy to the illegal junta and its deepening complicity through business and military ties,” JFM spokesperson Yadanar Maung said.

The group also called on Australia, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States to impose sanctions on companies and individuals it alleges are helping sustain the Myanmar military.