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Justice For Myanmar and Info Birmanie welcome move and call on Airbus to use leverage from its continued business in China to end the supply of arms to the Myanmar military
Justice For Myanmar and Info Birmanie welcome Airbus’ decision to divest from AviChina Industry & Technology Company Limited (AviChina), in which it was the single largest international shareholder at 5.03%. The investment was valued at US$140 million on June 30, 2024.
The divestment follows a broad-based campaign involving civil society organisations, strike groups, trade unions, protesters and individuals all over the world who pressured Airbus to use its leverage on Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) to end its business with the Myanmar military, or divest.
A September 2024 report by Justice For Myanmar and Info Birmanie exposed Airbus’ significant investment in the AVIC publicly listed subsidiary, AviChina Industry & Technology Company Limited.
AviChina’s products include the K-8 trainer/light attack aircraft and the Y-12 multi-purpose aircraft, both of which continue to be used by the Myanmar Air Force for indiscriminate airstrikes across the country.
Airbus completed its divestment from AviChina on April 1, 2025, and acknowledged it in financial information published for the three-month period ending 31 March. In an email response to Justice For Myanmar and Info Birmanie, a spokesperson of Airbus confirmed, “Airbus SE completed the sale of the entirety of its shares in AviChina Industry & Technology Company Limited, a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Airbus does not have any equity investments in AVIC.”
The company refused to comment further, citing a complaint currently pending at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the Netherlands regarding Airbus’ business relationship with AVIC, filed by a Myanmar civil society organisation.
Airbus remains a significant investor in the Chinese aviation industry, despite China’s well-documented strategy of military-civil fusion. As detailed in the Airbusted report, Airbus operates multiple legal entities in China, including joint ventures, in large part with AVIC and its subsidiaries.
Airbus’ partnerships with AVIC-controlled companies are inconsistent with Airbus’ human rights due diligence responsibilities, as companies operating under the oversight of AVIC continue to supply weapons – including military aircraft – to the Myanmar military. In doing so, AVIC risks aiding and abetting international crimes committed by the Myanmar military.
It remains unclear to what extent, if any, Airbus has used its leverage over AVIC to challenge continued exports of weapons to the Myanmar junta.
Yet, under international standards on business and human rights – including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises – Airbus is expected to use its leverage to pressure AVIC to cease all business with the Myanmar military, or, if this is unsuccessful, to responsibly disengage from its partnerships with AVIC.
In Myanmar, indiscriminate aerial attacks have continued even as rescue workers searched for survivors following the devastating Sagaing earthquake that struck Myanmar in March 2025.
The Myanmar Air Force can wage its aerial campaign of terror only through the continued supply of aircraft and associated weapons, essential consumables and maintenance, repair and overhaul from foreign partners.
By investing in AviChina, Airbus was financially supporting and profiting from AviChina’s continued development and marketing of military aircraft and the export of these aircraft to the Myanmar military.
Justice For Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung says:
“Airbus’ divestment sends a strong signal to AVIC and the Chinese government that supplying military aircraft and associated weaponry to the Myanmar junta carries financial and reputational costs.
“China remains the principal supplier of arms, dual use goods, technology and training to the Myanmar military and this complicity must end.
“It’s imperative that Airbus take further action and use the leverage they have over AVIC in China to cut all support for the Myanmar military, or end its business with AVIC all together.”
Johanna Chardonnieras, coordinator for Info Birmanie, says:
"This divestment must be a wake-up call for other companies, particularly European companies, directly or indirectly involved with the Burmese junta. There is a legal framework at national, European and international level, and extensive documentation of the war crimes committed by the Burmese junta, which companies can no longer ignore.
"Airbus's discreet disinvestment from AviChina does not mark the end of a responsibility, but rather an awakening. It is now up to our institutions, in particular in French, Spanish and German institutions whose governments are the three main shareholders in Airbus, to shed full light on the contracts and links between Airbus and the AVIC group and its subsidiaries.
"Legal tools, such as European sanctions and the duty of vigilance, must be applied. When our institutions fail to enforce them, they jeopardise their credibility, relegating the application of their decisions to civil society players."
More information
Read the Airbusted report in English here and in French here
