China has denounced sanctions against Burma, just days before aggressive new U.S. trade restrictions take effect.
Chinese State Councilor Tang Jaixuan told visiting Burmese Deputy Senior General Maung Aye Tuesday that China is against isolating Burma and disagrees with other countries interfering in Rangoon's internal affairs.
Mr. Tang said China believes that the Burmese people are intelligent and capable enough to handle the relevant issues and push forward the country's internal peace process.
Burma's military junta is resisting intense international pressure to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained on May 30th following clashes between her supporters and a pro-junta mob.
The European Union and Canada have slapped new sanctions on the regime, while tough new U.S. sanctions are due to take effect August 28th.
Meanwhile, a British-based rights group, Burma Campaign UK, has added more names to its so-called "dirty list," a list that targets companies with a significant presence in Britain.
The group released an updated list today (Wednesday) that included advertising giant WPP, Superdrug, and P & O Cruises. An updated "clean list" of companies who have pull out of Burma was also released. It included, among others, Levi's, Texaco and Triumph International.
Information for this report is provided by AFP and Reuters.