How Airbus’ close partner AVIC is supplying arms to the Myanmar military and what Airbus should do about it

Executive Summary 

French aerospace giant Airbus is an investor and partner of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). AVIC is a key supplier to the Myanmar military of military aircraft and arms used for the commission of international crimes. By obtaining military aircraft and maintenance, repair and overhaul support from AVIC, the junta can continue to commit atrocities with impunity.

With ongoing credible documentation and reporting at the United Nations (UN) of the human rights crisis in Myanmar, Airbus must know that its collaboration with AVIC takes place in a context in which the Myanmar military is committing repeated grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and that these violations are enabled by AVIC’s business with the Myanmar military. Yet Airbus has maintained its collaboration with AVIC and its investments in multiple AVIC subsidiaries through the Hong Kong publicly listed company, AviChina Industry & Technology Company Limited.

Three of Airbus’ key shareholders – the governments of Spain, Germany and France – have repeatedly condemned the Myanmar military’s ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity. These condemnations are seriously undermined, if not even contradicted, by Airbus’ significant financial and technical collaboration with AVIC.

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