The United States indirectly criticised China on Monday for shielding Myanmar from strong UN Security Council action over a military crackdown against mainly Rohingya Muslims that the US and other countries have denounced as ethnic cleansing. US Ambassador Nikki Haley did not mention China by name, but China proposed substantial amendments to a British-drafted Security Council statement on Myanmar last week. The Security Council met on Monday to discuss a visit by envoys to Myanmar and Bangladesh two weeks ago. Diplomats said Russia has also backed China in council discussions on Myanmar. The United States and Canada have imposed unilateral sanctions against a general in Myanmar's military for his role in the crackdown and the European Union is preparing individual sanctions.

Source: dna May 15, 2018 01:41 UTC