CYBER THREAT ANALYSIS Outlook display of Chinese characters was a side effect of the military’s restriction of Google’s static CDN, which was causing the web The military coup continues to be underway at the time of font icon load failures and was not in itself evidence that the writing. International pressure has increased as the US, UK, Chinese were interfering with Myanmar’s internet. Australia, and other countries have instituted sanctions against Furthermore, there have been reports of unregistered top Burmese military personnel and have also issued trade embargos against the country. Additionally, the United Nations flights arriving in Yangon from Kunming in southern China, with Security Council has called for imposing an arms embargo an average of 5 flights per night making trips between the two against the country while it is in the midst of the coup to prevent countries. Both the Chinese and Myanmar governments have it from committing further abuses. Furthermore, the Association claimed that these flights are carrying seafood between the of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is a countries; however, according to a report from the Australian member, met on March 2, 2021 and released a statement calling Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), the flights are being conducted for an end to the violence. However, as the principle of non- in a suspicious manner. For example, the planes’ transponders interference is one of the cores of the ASEAN agreement, it is were turned off, which is a violation of international aviation rules, unlikely that any of the ASEAN member states will step in if the and the flights are missing from international flights databases, situation in Myanmar persists, or if violence escalates. At the including flight numbers, call signs, and destinations. According time of writing, only 4 member states called for the release of to ASPI, it is possible that the planes are carrying Chinese Aung San Suu Kyi and other detainees: Indonesia, Malaysia, the troops and cyber specialists to help with the aforementioned strengthening of the country’s censorship capabilities, but it is Philippines, and Singapore. also possible that the planes may be carrying Chinese troops The coup has become increasingly violent in the last and military equipment, as Kunming is the home base for China’s few weeks. At the time of writing, there have been at least 63rd Base of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, which 200 protesters reported to have been killed and nearly 2,100 holds a significant artillery unit, signals intelligence units, and detained; however, actual numbers are likely higher than what cybersecurity units. has been reported by Myanmar’s media channels. There has The coup is expected to last at least another year, with been at least 2 reports of NLD members — U Khin Maung Latt the military calling for re-elections after the conclusion of the (chairman of the Pabedan Ward/Village) and U Zaw Myat Lin (an country’s one year state of emergency. It is likely that Myanmar’s organizer at the Su Institute of Vocational Science in Shwe Pyi Thar Township) — having been tortured and killed by the military pro-democracy movement will continue on in the coming months junta. The escalating violence has resulted in the UN Special and there has been evidence of greater participation in the Envoy issuing calls to put pressure on the country in forms of Civil Disobedience Movement recently by civil servants, such sanctions. Furthermore, on March 5, 2021, it was reported that, as doctors, railway workers, and Myanmar’s Ambassador to the on February 4, 2021, the US blocked Myanmar’s military junta United Nations, and underground financial support groups have from moving approximately $1 billion USD that was held at the emerged to support those participating in the CDM. Violence Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Similarly, on March 4, 2021, has grown steadily in the last few weeks and defected Burmese Norway’s central bank announced that they had put Japan’s military policemen have reported that they were ordered to Kirin Holdings on a watch list due to the organization’s ties to “shoot ‘til they [the protesters] are dead.” Pro-democracy companies owned or operated by the Myanmar military, such as supporters have remained steadfast in spite of the increased Myanma Economic Holdings Public Company Limited, and a joint violence, and have continued to find ways to circumvent the venture between Kirin and Myanmar Brewery that was valued at country’s internet restrictions to show evidence of the military’s brutality to the international community. Despite international $1.7 billion USD. calls for peace, and facing the threat of sanctions toward the Despite these sanctions and embargoes, there have country, Myanmar’s military has stayed on their course, stating been unvalidated claims that the Chinese government is that they are prepared to “...learn to walk with only few friends”. working with Myanmar’s military to strengthen their internet firewalls and increase censorship capabilities, claims that the Chinese government has denied. Several users have claimed that they have received messages in Chinese from their telecommunications providers, further leading to the theory that China is aiding Myanmar’s military in improving their internet censorship. However, analysis by NetBlocks showed that the 11 CTA-2021-0324 Recorded Future ® | www.recordedfuture.com