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These days, the situation in Myanmar has attracted worldwide attention.
The Biden administration has officially characterized the situation in Myanmar as a "coup" and threatened to impose sanctions on Myanmar. The attitude of American officials is very representative. The United Nations and the European Union have also condemned it, and the mainstream foreign media basically use the word "coup".
Although the word "coup d’ é tat" is common in domestic media, China officials have always been very cautious and have not gone with the flow. A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said (February 2): We have noticed what is happening in Myanmar.
Careful readers will find that the official English media has never used the word "coup", but called "what is happening in Myanmar" "a major cabinet reshuffle". In the overwhelming English reports, this expression is somewhat special, and it is difficult to be ignored.
The word "coup" tends to take sides in politics, while "cabinet refresh" is a neutral description of the result, which embodies China’s diplomatic principle of "non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs". There are many considerations behind the caution and particularity of official words. You can experience it for yourselves.
Unsurprisingly, China’s official wording was criticized by foreign media and American politicians. For example, AFP article title:
The questioning and disdain of foreign media is vividly displayed in the word "just".
In fact, not only the wording of China has been scrutinized by foreign media, but also the wording of the United States has been closely watched. In its statement, Biden’s government called "Myanmar" instead of the more common "Myanmar".
"Burma" and "Myanmar" are both names of Myanmar, the former is an old name and the latter is a new name. In 1989, the Burmese military government changed the name of the country from "Burma" to "Myanmar". Democrats in Myanmar (such as Aung San Suu Kyi) are reluctant to accept the change of name. In this regard, the official attitude of the United States is also very interesting. The US State Department official website (January 21, 2020) said this:
The military government changed the country’s name to “Myanmar” in 1989. The United States government continues to use the name “Burma.”
https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-burma/
The official use of "Burma" in the United States has political considerations. In the eyes of the United States, what the military government has always done is anti-democratic, unwilling to abandon "Burma" and convey a political hint that it is unwilling to associate with the military government.
Domestic English media generally use "Myanmar" and rarely write it as "Burma". The American media is more complicated, using both "Burma" and "Myanmar", and sometimes writing like this: Myanmar, also known as Burma, ….. neither side offends.
Wen Daojun observed that in recent years, the word "Myanmar" has basically been accepted by governments and major media. It is for this reason that the Biden administration’s statement calling Myanmar by its old name "Burma" is particularly noticeable. Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, responded that the use of the word "Burma" is still the official policy of the United States, but it does not mean disrespect for the Myanmar government, and "Myanmar" will also be used on some occasions.
The situation in Myanmar has attracted the attention of all parties, and the attitudes of China and the United States on the situation in Myanmar have attracted more attention. The statements of both China and the United States will be carefully examined under the microscope, and the wording is not allowed. As the ancients said, those who have a country should not be careless, and it will be the world!