MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. The West is seeking to cut off China’s access to the Indian Ocean, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu told TASS in an interview.

"We must understand that Western politicians view Myanmar within the context of their larger strategy to contain China. They are attempting to cut Beijing off from the Indian Ocean and prevent it from accessing Myanmar's rich resources," the security official said following his working visit to Myanmar.

Shoigu noted that "through Myanmar’s territory lies the shortest path from China to Europe, avoiding the Strait of Malacca, which could be blocked by the US Navy in case of an escalation of the situation around Taiwan or the South China Sea."