The Myanmar junta is seeking China’s help in implementing a new electronic identity card (eID) that will contain the holder’s biometric information.

China -- a major ally and arms supplier for the junta -- operates a sprawling nationwide surveillance network that collects huge amounts of data from its citizens, ostensibly for security purposes.

Following discussions in China earlier this week, between the junta’s Union Minister for Immigration and Population, U Myint Kyaing, and the Chinese Deputy Minister of the National Immigration Agency (NIA) the two countries. agreed to cooperate on the eID system and immigration, according to the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

The eID will collect "biographic data and the biometric data of citizens aged 10 years and above”, according to state media.

China has a lot of experience with such technology and uses it in an extensive, countrywide surveillance system that monitors its citizens and has been extensively criticised.

The junta wants to bring in eID cards as part of its planned nationwide census, which is supposed to take place in 2024, with a trial due to take place this October.

During the discussions, U Myint Kyaing briefed Chinese officials on October’s trial census ahead of next year’s national census and asked for "China's cooperation in implementing the eID system”, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar.

The junta has claimed that it needs to hold a census before it can hold an election, which it claims it will do in 2025.

Critics say the junta will use the census to step up monitoring of opponents of its coup, including thousands of civil servants, doctors and teachers who have not returned to work in protest.

The United States has said any elections under the junta would be a "sham", while analysts say polls would be targeted by the military's opponents and spark further bloodshed.