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(CNN) – The Biden administration is embroiled in an internal debate over whether to call the military takeover in Myanmar a coup, a designation that would have ramifications for U.S. assistance to the country’s government, according to a State Department official and an official from the administration.
It is a decision that the new administration will have to make as it faces one of its first major foreign policy challenges.
President Joe Biden has indicated that sanctions could be on the table in response to the takeover of Myanmar’s armed forces. They took control of the country on Monday after arresting top government figures, including leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The inauguration, which CNN is calling a coup, came after months of growing friction between the civilian government and the powerful military, known as the Tatmadaw, over alleged electoral irregularities.
“The seizure of power by the military in Burma, the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials, and the declaration of a state of national emergency are a direct assault on the country’s transition to democracy and the state of right, “Biden said in a statement Monday. “For nearly a decade, the people of Burma have consistently worked to establish elections, civil governance and the peaceful transfer of power. That progress must be respected.”
“The United States removed sanctions against Burma over the past decade based on progress toward democracy,” he continued, using another name for Myanmar. “Reversing that progress will require an immediate review of our sanctions laws and authorities, followed by appropriate action.”
Biden’s statement followed earlier messages of condemnation from White House press secretary Jen Psaki and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, neither of whom referred to the inauguration as a coup.
A State Department official told CNN that “the recent events in Burma obviously have the makings of a coup, but the State Department is doing the required legal and factual analysis.”
“We will wait for the result before making an evaluation,” the official said.
The US Agency for International Development said Monday night that it is “carefully monitoring and evaluating the potential impacts on USAID programs as this situation evolves.”
“The safety and security of our staff and partners are our top priority,” the agency said in a tweet.
Officially declaring the events in Myanmar a coup would legally force the United States to cut off foreign aid to the country’s government. The State Department’s legal office is studying this determination and is likely to take the lead in this matter, officials said. There is no legal requirement for the United States to formally declare that a military takeover is a coup, but the administration will make that determination if it deems it in the interest of US national security.
Politico was the first to report that the debate is taking place.
The State Department briefed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the situation Monday afternoon, sources told CNN.
Two congressional aides who were part of the State Department briefing said it appeared the department would weigh all its options as it uncovers its approach. They noted that unlike 10 years ago, there is now a US presence in the country to consider.
One of the attendees noted that if a coup designation is made, the administration will have to determine how this will affect the environment for the implementation of humanitarian assistance. The other noted that while the United States is generous with its aid to the nation, the United States provides very little aid directly to the government. A coup designation would not allow direct assistance to the Myanmar government to continue.
A third aide to Congress, who expressed the need for the United States to be guided by its own interests, noted that the law allows exceptions for funding related to global health and humanitarian needs. For example, last year the U.S. government announced more than $ 18 million in Covid-19 assistance to Myanmar and that pool of funds is not expected to be suspended, they said.
The first two aides to Congress noted that if the administration does not impose sanctions, members of Congress will likely introduce legislation to impose mandatory sanctions.
One of those attendees noted that “in order for us to get the policy correct in the future, the administration and Congress will need to consult closely,” adding that it is “important that they can trust us and we can trust them.” “
Bipartisan lawmakers, including top Democrats and Republicans from both committees, have raised concerns about a return to military rule.
When asked about the briefing, a State Department spokesperson said: “As a general matter, we do not comment on communication with Congress.”
An interagency meeting of the National Security Council’s deputy committee was also convened on Monday afternoon and officials were expected to discuss sanctions they could use to respond to the military takeover, two State Department officials said.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions against the commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s armed forces, Min Aung Hlaing, and prevented him from entering the United States for his role in human rights abuses against the Rohingya population in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
The Biden administration could implement sanctions as soon as this week, but its decision to pull the trigger will likely be affected by a desire to move alongside allies. It is working to get an idea of how quickly other countries want to act, officials said.
In his statement on Monday, Biden called on the international community to “unite with one voice to pressure the Burmese army to immediately abandon the power it has taken, release the activists and officials it has detained, lift all restrictions on telecommunications and refrain from violence against civilians. “
“The United States is taking note of those who support the people of Burma in this difficult hour,” he said.
When asked if that was a message for China, which might look to take advantage of the situation on the ground in Myanmar, Psaki said, “I think it’s a message for all the countries in the region and countries that, you know, are it will ask them to respond or to consider what the appropriate response will be in reaction to the events that have occurred in the last few days. “
Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia and director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told CNN that imposing sanctions or limiting interactions with Myanmar could “open the door to even greater Chinese influence.”
However, the third congress aide noted that “it is not clear that what has happened is seen by China as a positive development.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a briefing on Monday, “We have noticed what is happening in Myanmar and we are learning more about the situation.”
This story was first published on CNN.com ‘The Biden administration is debating whether to call Myanmar’s military takeover a’ coup ‘
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