Myanmar Seeks Chinese Assistance in Transitioning to Biometric Smart ID Cards

By IndraStra Global News Team

Seeking to update its antiquated paper identification system, Myanmar's military leadership is seeking technological assistance from China to make the transition to electronic smart cards incorporating biometric data capabilities. The official Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported last month that Myint Kyaing, the Minister of Immigration and Population for the junta, reached out to Beijing during a recent visit, seeking assistance in replacing the country's conventional national registration IDs with advanced smart cards that can store and verify biometric data through computer systems.
This overhaul of the identification system aims to enhance the durability of ID cards and include additional personal information, such as name, date of birth, address, race or ethnicity, hair and eye color, and height, which can be easily scanned. The junta claims these changes are part of an effort to streamline the nation's electoral process.
The paper-based pink-color National Registration Cards (NRC), also known as Citizenship Scrutiny Cards, have long been issued to Burmese citizens by the Ministry of Labor, Immigration, and Population's national registration department. In the past, a pilot project was launched in select townships in Naypyidaw and in Mandalay in December 2016. During the pilot phase, Myanmar officers employed state-of-the-art technology to record citizens' fingerprints, perform eye scans, and capture individual photographs, leading to a marked enhancement in the efficiency of the identification process. However, for some reason, the pilot did not progress into a complete and widespread implementation.
Nonetheless, this time, there are apprehensions regarding the decision to seek Chinese support, especially concerning the potential consequences of this action, given China's track record of extensive surveillance and monitoring of its citizens. Critics argue that the junta's proposed ID update may be leveraged to monitor Myanmar's citizens and tighten control, particularly in the wake of the political instability resulting from the military's coup d'état in February 2021.
One resident of Yangon, who chose to remain anonymous due to fears of reprisal, expressed skepticism about the junta's intentions, stating that the people of Myanmar do not see the need for the national ID scheme or any other policies implemented by the junta. Reports indicate that junta staff have already begun implementing their project in various parts of the city.
Armed resistance groups in the conflict-ridden Magway region have vowed to oppose the ID card plan. Wei Kyi, an anti-junta People's Defense Force (PDF) official in Magway's Yesagyo township, believes that the updated IDs are part of the junta's strategy to maintain control and suppress dissent.
Efforts to obtain comments from junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun regarding the proposed ID update went unanswered.
Thein Tun Oo, the executive director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, which includes former military officers, emphasized the potential advantages of transitioning to smart electronic ID cards. He noted that these cards could simplify job applications and provide employers with comprehensive biometric data, reducing bureaucratic processes. However, Thein Tun Oo acknowledged that implementing the plan under current circumstances might be challenging.
Hla Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar affairs researcher, raised doubts about China's willingness to provide technical assistance, stating that the junta had only casually suggested such support. He indicated that the junta may seek other countries' help to legitimize its control through an election.
Junta chief Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing mentioned in a September 1 meeting that elections would follow the national census in 2024, but further details remain undisclosed.
Inquiries made by Radio Free Asia to obtain information regarding China's involvement in the national ID scheme in collaboration with the junta went unanswered by both the Chinese Embassy in Yangon and Myanmar's Consulate in Kunming. Despite their requests for clarification on this matter, there needed to be more response from these diplomatic entities, leaving questions regarding this partnership unanswered and contributing to the growing uncertainty and concerns surrounding China's role in Myanmar's ID card transition.
Political commentator Than Soe Naing speculated that the junta may not prioritize using the proposed IDs for election preparation, given the challenges posed by the displacement of a significant portion of the population due to conflict and other factors. Instead, he suggested that the junta's primary objective might be to exert further control over the people.
As conversations persist concerning this contentious shift to electronic ID cards, it remains uncertain how both the populace of Myanmar and international observers will respond to the military junta's proposed changes. The unfolding developments and the potential ramifications of this decision are subjects of significant interest, with a keen eye on how the people of Myanmar and the global community will gauge and navigate the junta's intentions in this matter.
With reporting by Radio Free Asia (RFA)

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