China-Burma-US relations
Websites/Multiple Documents
Description:
"Since 1988, when Burma appeared to abandon its strictly neutral foreign policy and drew closer to China, contacts between the two countries have been watched closely. Bilateral ties have developed and matured, as has their analysis, which has begun to include consideration of the US?s interests and possible role. Questions as to how Burma?s relations with China have changed over the past 25 years, and what factors may have played a role in this process, were highlighted at a conference staged last week by the ANU?s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre..."
Andrew Selth
Source/publisher:
"The Interpreter"
Date of publication:
2015-09-18
Date of entry/update:
2015-09-19
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
135.44 KB
Local URL:
Selth-2015-09-18-Burma-China-US.pdf
Selth-2015-09-18-Burma-China-US.pdf more
Individual Documents
Description:
"FOR the Southeast Asian state of Myanmar, the decision to expand ties with China despite Western pressure was a no-brainer. Significant economic ties have been expanded and the prospect for several large-scale infrastructure projects has been firmed up.
Chinese president Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Myanmar could be considered a victory lap of sorts; the cementing of long-standing and ever-expanding ties between Myanmar and China and the final displacement of significant US and British influence in the former British colony.
An op-ed on China’s CGTN website titled, ‘Xi’s New Year visit to Myanmar: A milestone in bilateral relations,’ would help frame the significance of president Xi’s visit while comparing and contrasting Myanmar’s ties with China and the US.
The op-ed would note that president Xi’s trip to Myanmar was his first major trip abroad made during 2020. It is also the first major visit by a Chinese leader to Myanmar in nearly 20 years. Even US proxies can’t deny America’s decline
THE op-ed also noted that Myanmar’s state counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, picked China for her first major visit abroad after her National League for Democracy party came to power in 2016.
To understand the significance of this it is important to understand that Suu Kyi and her rise to power were primarily driven by support from Washington.
She and her political party along with a large army of US government-funded fronts posing as nongovernmental organisations and US-funded media networks were selected and groomed for decades by Washington to seize power and serve as a vector for US special interests both in Myanmar itself and as a point of leverage versus Beijing.
However, despite America’s expertise in political meddling, what it lacks is, as the op-ed calls it, any concrete economic pillars; something China does have on offer.
No matter how much covert or overt financial and political support any client regime in Myanmar may receive from Washington it does not address the genuine need for real development within Myanmar itself. Without such development and the financial and economic incentives it brings with it, enemies and allies of the client regime alike will turn towards those who can offer such incentives..."
Source/publisher:
"newagebd.net"
Date of entry/update:
2020-07-10
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma's economic relations with China, Burma's economic relations with the USA, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"...These comparisons of three of Thailand and Myanmar’s respective alignment choices since the end of WWII demonstrate the crucial intermix between domestic politics and international structural factors. Owing to their unique political histories and domestic power contests, the two countries pursued different foreign policy choices during the initial years of the Cold War. Thailand relied on a close alliance with the United States, while Myanmar, then Burma, stayed neutral. Such initial choices certainly had a lingering effect on later government. We have seen that after 1962 the Ne Win government carried the neutralist policy further still to one of self-isolation. As to Thailand’s case, the alliance relationship certainly empowered the country’s military, leading to a succession of military governments during the Cold War that further entrenched Thailand’s foreign policy orientation towards Washington. Domestic political crises in Myanmar, however, eventually pushed the military government first to seek a closer engagement with China, so as to fend off Western pressure on its government, and then, two decades later, to seek re-engagement with the United States in efforts to balance China’s preponderance. After its alliance with the United States, Thailand stayed close to the American side through to the Sino–US rapprochement. But since the end of Cold War, and the divergence of Thailand and the US’s interests in the region, Thailand has pursued an increasingly independent foreign policy..."
Date of entry/update:
2020-04-18
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Format :
PDF
Size:
224.74 KB
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
Indian and foreign media may have missed it but the US-India joint statement will most certainly be scrutinised closely by Beijing for anti-China content.
Description:
"Both the Indian and foreign media coverage of US President Donald Trump’s India visit went on and on about his mention of Delhi riots and Pakistan – but almost entirely overlooked the reference to the Blue Dot Network, which has given rise to growing unease in Beijing.
The mellifluous language of the joint statement centres on a ‘Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership’ tick boxing the expected military, space, and energy cooperation, as well as concern about the high debt situation in developing countries and the need for “responsible, transparent and sustainable financing practises”. That’s diplomatic language to refer to the dire situation faced by countries like Sri Lanka and the Maldives due to heavy debts to China.The next few lines refer to the Blue Dot Network as a “a multi-stakeholder initiative that will bring governments, the private sector, and civil society together to promote high-quality trusted standards for global infrastructure development”. That might seem rather tame, but here’s the carrot. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) expects that infrastructure development needs in the Indo-Pacific alone could be worth about $1.7 trillion per year through 2030. That’s what the Chinese are after. And now it seems, everyone else wants a slice of the pie, and the influence that goes with it..."
Source/publisher:
"The Print" (India)
Date of entry/update:
2020-03-03
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma-India relations, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
China’s overseas projects funded by debt from its own infrastructure banks are now viewed with trepidation, by both recipient countries for the potential debt trap.
Description:
"Global business and strategy analysts will be watching with keen interest any attempts US President Donald Trump makes to convince India to join its ambitious plan to counter China’s ‘Silk Route’ programme of port and highway constructions. Last November, the US, Japan and Australia unveiled the ‘Blue Dot’ infrastructure network, ostensibly to certify and promote infrastructure development, but in reality, it was to take on China’s BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) that is currently building a chain of roads and ports connecting most of the world to Beijing. The Western alternative has been in the making for some time as nations have voiced alarm at the cheque-book diplomacy of China through its BRI projects and their security ramifications. Soon after Blue Dot’s launch, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross lost no time in pointing out that American direct investment into Asia had topped $1.6 trillion and that “our numbers will only get bigger”. It was quickly noted by China’s Global Times, which said, “Although China was not mentioned by name, it’s widely suspected that Washington’s new plan is directed against the China proposed BRI.” China’s pique is natural as analysts say Blue Dot could be backed with funding by Japan’s JICA and America’s newly founded International Development Finance Corporation and Ausaid, not to mention a host of global development finance windows backed by the West..."
Source/publisher:
"The New Indian Express" (India)
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-25
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, China-Burma-India relations, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
Chinese president’s two-day trip comes as nations mark 70 years of diplomatic ties...US sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders over alleged ‘serious human rights abuses’ described as a blow to Southeast Asian nation’s dignity.
Description:
"Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Myanmar this week is special in several ways. It is Xi’s first overseas trip of the year and the first visit to the Southeast Asian country by a Chinese president since 2001. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of formal diplomatic ties between the two countries.
A recent Xinhua commentary said that “a good neighbour is better than a far dwelling relative”, referring to China’s ties with Myanmar. Some observers view geopolitics concerning Myanmar in black-and-white terms: a National League for Democracy (NLD) government would lead to closer ties with the West and less so with China. The Rakhine issue effectively put paid to such earlier prognosis. If anything, there has yet to be any respite to the general downturn in relations between Myanmar and the West. In fact, the situation has worsened.
Following a round of sanctions by Western powers in 2018, the US treasury department last month imposed new sanctions against Myanmar’s top military leaders over alleged “serious human rights abuses”, a move that Myanmar’s military (the Tatmadaw) criticised as “targeted political pressure” which “hurt the dignity” of the military. A month earlier, the Tatmadaw was accused by the US of possessing chemical weapons..."
Source/publisher:
"South China Morning Post" (Hong Kong)
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-19
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma's economic relations with China, “One Belt, One Road” initiative, Arakan (Rakhine) State - reports etc. by date (latest first)
Language:
Local URL:
more
Summary:
"Chinese President Xi Jinping will land in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, on Friday looking to secure more agreements on key strategic projects under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), a...
Description:
"Chinese President Xi Jinping will land in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, on Friday looking to secure more agreements on key strategic projects under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), a part of China’s ambitious infrastructure plan for the region.
Xi will be the first Chinese president to visit China’s southern neighbor in nearly two decades.
During his trip on Jan. 17-18, the two countries are expected to sign dozens of agreements, paving the way for the implementation of the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a key strategic component of the CMEC, and border economic cooperation zones, road upgrade projects, promotion of trade relations, and social and economic development assistance.
The 1,700-kilometer-long CMEC will start in Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan Province, go through Myanmar’s major economic cities—Mandalay in central Myanmar and the commercial capital of Yangon—and reach the coast at the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Rakhine State.
Here, The Irrawaddy looks at six projects slated for implementation this year and which require careful monitoring due to ethnic conflicts, local disagreements, and social and environmental impacts—including the controversial Myitsone Dam project, on which a final decision could be made during Xi’s trip..."
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-14
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma's economic relations with China, Chinese investment, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"The U.S. government will take steps next week to limit the export of artificial intelligence (AI) software. The decision by the Trump administration comes at a time when powerful rival nations, such as China, are becoming increasingly dominant in the field. The move is meant to keep certain sensitive technologies from falling into the hands of those nations.
The new rule goes into effect on January 6, 2020, and it will be aimed at certain companies that export geospatial imagery software from the United States. Those companies will be required to apply for a license to export it. The only exception is that a license will not be required to export to Canada.
The new measure was the first of its kind to be finalized by the Commerce Department under a mandate from a 2018 law passed by Congress. That law updated arms controls to include emerging technology.
The new rules will likely have an effect on a growing part of the tech industry. These algorithms are currently being used in order to analyze satellite images of crops, trade patterns and other changes within the economy and environment.
Chinese companies are responsible for having exported artificial intelligence surveillance technology to over 60 countries. Some of those countries have dismal human rights records and include Iran, Myanmar, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe..."
Source/publisher:
"Unite.ai"
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-13
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, International Trade, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
Far from the front lines of the US-China trade war, the resource-rich Kachin is the scene of a familiar struggle for influence between the two superpowers...China has invested heavily, but for some locals development has come at a cost
Description:
"While the US-China trade war plays to the audience on the global stage, behind the scenes the two superpowers are engaged in a unique tug of war for influence in one of the world’s more remote corners.
Myitkyina, the capital of Myanmar’s Kachin State about 1,200km north of Yangon, rarely features on tourist bucket lists. Despite its verdant scenery and dynamic culture and traditions, it suffers from high rates of poverty and drug addiction, and has been the scene of a conflict between the Kachin Independence Army and the Myanmar military which has displaced an estimated 100,000 people since a 17-year ceasefire collapsed in 2011. Yet recently not one, but two high-profile visitors arrived in the space of just days.
US Ambassador to Myanmar Scot Marciel and a delegation from the US Embassy held a Myitkyina Road Show in November that included a jobs and opportunities fair, a workshop with the agricultural sector, and a meeting with veterans who fought alongside US troops in World War II. Marciel said the embassy wanted to work with the Kachin people “in support of freedom, democracy, human rights and economic progress”, and that the US was “committed to implementing development programmes in an open, transparent manner … to listen and learn”..."
Source/publisher:
"South China Morning Post" (Hong Kong)
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-12
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations, “One Belt, One Road” initiative, International Trade, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Kachin State
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"Chinese President Xi Jinping pays a state visit to Myanmar; the United States holds final Democratic debate.
Xi's Myanmar visit:
At the invitation of Myanmar's President U Win Myint, Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a two-day state visit to Myanmar on January 17 and 18, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Friday.
It is the first visit by a Chinese president to Myanmar in 19 years.
During his visit, Xi is expected to meet Myanmar's President U Win Myint, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and officials from Myanmar's Assembly of the Union and the military, vice foreign minister Luo Zhaohui said at a media briefing on Friday..."
Source/publisher:
"China Global Television Network (CGTN)" (China)
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-12
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations, Politics and Government - global and regional - general studies, strategies, theory
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
American apathy in world affairs may be the silver bullet that hands-off systemic leadership to the Chinese. With growing structural capacities, China is able to propagate a new means of conducting world politics, one of a distinctly authoritarian variant.
Description:
"China’s successful economic and geopolitical rise has positioned Beijing to push an agenda that is antithetical to America’s political and economic liberal order. China is no longer a rising power, but rather a peer competitor with the United States fighting to maximize security and global clout. Meanwhile, the United States remains distracted by domestic political polarization and protracted foreign wars. What does this lack of American engagement and increasing Chinese ambition mean for the global order? This is not another piece on America’s “lost hegemony.” Instead, it is representative of aggressive Chinese ambition and coercive economic diplomacy. Perhaps a more relevant scenario to explore would be: if China rolled tanks into Hong Kong tomorrow to quell the persisting pro-democracy demonstrations, how would the international community react? Would the United States be able to draw a red line for China?..."
Source/publisher:
"The National Interest" (USA)
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-08
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, China-Burma-US relations, Politics and Government - global and regional - general studies, strategies, theory
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"Myanmar tycoon Win Aung is open to foreign investment in the listed industrial-estate provider he oversees, following Ayala Corp's tie-up with a firm traded on the nation's fledgling stock exchange.
In an interview in Yangon, Win Aung said a stake sale is an option as he plans to expand Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings, which operates a manufacturing zone where 109 firms have opened factories or plan to do so.
"We'll need more capital and technology," Win Aung, the firm's chairman, said on Thursday (Nov 28). "Detailed plans will be revealed later after the authorities officially allow foreigner participation on the Yangon Stock Exchange."
Myanmar is trying to expand a stunted bourse that currently has just five stocks by allowing overseas purchases of domestic equities from 2020. The Philippines' oldest conglomerate Ayala is investing in one of those five - First Myanmar Investment - via an US$82.5 million convertible loan that will become a 20 per cent shareholding when rules permit.
The four-year-old Thilawa special economic zone is viewed by some as the largest in Myanmar. Japanese, Thai and Malaysian firms account for the bulk of the factories located there, according to Win Aung..."
Source/publisher:
"The Straits Times" (Singapore)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-29
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Political, social and economic dimensions of investment in Burma, Other Special Economic Zones, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Summary:
"ASEAN members have issued a variety of incentives to attract investors affected by the US-China trade war.
These incentives come in the form of tax breaks as well as initiatives to improve the...
Description:
"ASEAN members have issued a variety of incentives to attract investors affected by the US-China trade war.
These incentives come in the form of tax breaks as well as initiatives to improve the investment climate.
Investors should seek the help of registered advisors to better understand which incentives are beneficial for their business.
Governments across ASEAN have been unveiling an array of incentive packages to entice businesses affected by the US-China trade war.
Countries such as Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia have introduced tax breaks and initiatives to improve the ease of doing business whereas Vietnam, Singapore, and Cambodia have accelerated business reforms, such as executing free trade agreements (FTAs), and double taxation agreements (DTAs). We consolidate and briefly discusses the development of each country’s incentives over the past year. The developments showcase how ASEAN members are distinguishing themselves from the fellow competition and what opportunities are available for investors looking elsewhere in Asia..."
Source/publisher:
"ASEAN Briefing"
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-22
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
ASEAN-Burma relations, China-Burma-US relations, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma's economic relations with China
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"At the annual Australia-US Ministerial meeting (AUSMIN) 2019, US Secretary of Defence, Mike Esper and US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, presented a proposal to use Australia as part of the US’ Asia-Pacific regional defence network against Chinese expansionism. Mike Esper stated that ‘the US would like to place either long-range or cruise missiles’ in Australia. Despite ruling out this notion, Australia’s defence minister, Linda Reynolds, did not completely preclude the deployment of US military hardware, adding, ’The presence of the US and its military forces in this region has been a force for stability for decades, and Australia has consistently welcomed that force and presence.’ Although China remains Australia’s biggest trading partner, the South China Sea issue, along with Beijing’s push for aggressive economic development and acquisition of strategic maritime assets in Southeast Asian countries, have raised concerns about its intentions. Furthermore, the Darwin port acquisition by Chinese SOE, Landbridge Group, back in 2015, fuelled further concerns for the security of both Australian and US naval assets. The US request to use Australian territory as part of its defence network is a response to Beijing’s use of economic development as a weapon to undermine US influence in both South-East Asia (SEA) and the Pacific. In recent years, China has increased its diplomatic efforts in the Pacific Island states by using foreign direct investment (FDI) as a means of winning favours from their governments. Building opulent Chinese-owned casinos in the Northern Marianas is an example of this strategy. China favours the use of casinos to attract Chinese tourists to the islands as a means of boosting the domestic economy. In practice, this often backfires on the island economy and, instead, damages local businesses, which increases dependence on Beijing..."
Source/publisher:
"Future Directions International"
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-21
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma-US relations, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"A Chinese pharmaceutical firm has won market approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration for a self-developed lymphoma drug, marking the first entry of an innovative cancer drug from a Chinese company into the US and giving a boost to domestic drugmakers’ ambitions to create new treatments for patients around the world.
The drug, known as Brukinsa, is a product from Beijing-based BeiGene. It received the FDA’s approval on Friday and will probably become available to US patients by the end of the year, Wu Xiaobin, BeiGene president, said at a news conference on Friday.
The application was accepted by the FDA in August, and approval came sooner than originally expected. In January, the drug was granted Breakthrough Therapy designation, an official status that speeds up review processes for drugs that may demonstrate substantial advantages over existing therapies, according to the FDA.
It was also the first time that such a beneficial policy was granted to a Chinese company, according to BeiGene..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-20
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Public Health, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has urged all South China Sea claimant countries, including the Philippines, to take a “very public posture” and assert their sovereign rights against China’s aggressive moves in the disputed waters.
Esper also said the United States was open to revisiting and strengthening its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines “based on changes in the environment and world situation.”
Ambiguities
At a press conference with Esper on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he initially introduced the idea of revisiting the MDT which was signed by the two countries in 1951.
Lorenzana cited the ambiguities in the treaty, including a provision that indicates that an attack on “Metropolitan Philippines” would automatically trigger a military response from the United States.
Esper meanwhile reiterated the US commitment to the MDT which covers the entire Pacific region, including the South China Sea..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-20
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
ASEAN-Burma relations, China-Burma-US relations, Burma's economic relations with ASEAN, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
US, EU and Japan are all mounting economic, financial and strategic counters to China’s peaceful rise narrative
Description:
"Days before China started to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its people’s republic, communist leaders issued a policy declaration entitled “China and the World in the New Era” which hailed “a development path with Chinese characteristics.”
Reporting on the document’s release on September 27, the state-run Global Times newspaper opined that “China has grown into a giant” that has taken aim at “Western logic – that a country is destined to seek hegemony after becoming strong.”
That, according to the Global Times, “does not apply to China” and its strictly peaceful, not confrontational, rise. China is only interested in global development and “win-win cooperation”, the paper asserted.
While no one would dispute that China’s people’s republic has emerged into an economic and political superpower on its 70th anniversary, the paper’s other conclusions are not generally shared by rival powers..."
Source/publisher:
"Asia Times" (Hong Kong)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-19
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis), China-Burma-US relations, Japan-Burma relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"Myanmar expects to attract more investment as manufacturers seeking to relocate production from China to skirt US tariffs encounter capacity constraints in Vietnam.
The Southeast Asian nation aims to woo a total of US$5.8 billion in foreign direct investment this year and cut back the red tape that deters some companies, according to a senior government official. “When it comes to relocation, Vietnam might be preferable but it’s already congested,” said Aung Naing Oo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations. “So, investors are now eyeing Indonesia and Myanmar.”..."
Source/publisher:
"South China Morning Post" (Hong Kong)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-12
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma's economic relations with China, Burma's economic relations with the USA, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Summary:
"Myanmar expects to attract more investment as manufacturers seeking to relocate production from China to skirt US tariffs encounter capacity constraints in Vietnam.
The Southeast Asian nation,...
Description:
"Myanmar expects to attract more investment as manufacturers seeking to relocate production from China to skirt US tariffs encounter capacity constraints in Vietnam.
The Southeast Asian nation, whose goal is to woo a total of $5.8 billion in foreign-direct investment this year, is trying to cut back the red tape that deters some companies, according to a senior government official.
“When it comes to relocation, Vietnam might be preferable, but it’s already congested,” said Aung Naing Oo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations. “So, investors are now eyeing Indonesia and Myanmar.”
One advantage for Myanmar -- where about a third of the population lives in poverty -- is that Europe and the US offer preferential export terms to boost growth, according to Aung Naing Oo. At the same time, the $71 billion economy continues to face traditional obstacles such as insufficient supplies of electricity and industrial land..."
Source/publisher:
"Bloomberg News" (New York) via "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-11
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations, Chinese investment, United States investment, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
Myanmar has made substantial shifts in its relations with major powers China, Russia and the United States. They are key regional players in Southeast Asia that will directly impact peace and stability as well as economic development in Myanmar.
Description:
"In the first half of the year, China has made impressive diplomatic inroads throughout Southeast Asia, taking advantage of the lack of policy clarity coming from US President Donald Trump's administration.
So far, Washington has flexed its muscles over the conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan and displayed a more reconciliatory tone on Europe. That much was clear. It was only on Thursday that Vice President Mike Pence disclosed that Trump would attend the Asia Pacific Economic Leaders Meeting in Vietnam, and the ASEAN-US Summit and East Asia Summit in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Beijing has been able to sharpen its long-standing policy and make the necessary adjustments to ensure strong friendships and cooperation with countries in the region. Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw’s recent visit to China demonstrated the new dynamics of their bilateral ties, which have encountered several challenges over the years.
Obviously, China has placed the highest value on U Htin Kyaw’s week-long trip, knowing that, amid growing anxieties over US policy toward the region, this would be the most pivotal time to further strengthen their 67-year-old bilateral ties.
The joint press communiqué issued after his visit was extensive and forward-looking, as China recognised the so-called Myanmar way of doing things..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-07
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations, Russia-Burma relations, Politics and Government - global and regional - general studies, strategies, theory
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"Myanmar has made substantial shifts in its relations with major powers comprising China, Russia and the United States. They are key regional players in South-east Asia which will impact directly on peace and stability as well as economic development in Myanmar.
In the first half of this year, China has made impressive diplomatic inroads throughout South-east Asia, taking advantage of the lack of policy clarity coming from the new US administration of President Donald Trump.
So far, Washington has flexed its muscle over the conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan and displayed a more reconciliatory tone towards Europe. That much was clear. It was only on Thursday that US Vice-President Mike Pence said that Mr Trump would attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders' Meeting in Vietnam, the Asean-US Summit and the East Asia Summit.
Meanwhile, Beijing has been able to sharpen its long-standing policy and make the necessary adjustments to ensure strong friendships and cooperation with countries in the region. Myanmar President Htin Kyaw's recent visit to China demonstrated the new dynamics of their bilateral ties, which have encountered different challenges over the years..."
Source/publisher:
"The Straits Times" (Singapore)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-07
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations, Russia-Burma relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"Much has been reported on the recent release of the two Reuters journalists in Myanmar. Whilst the focus has been on issues of press freedom, many commentators have not evaluated the international response to the release. In my view, the response by the likes of Europe, USA, China and Russia, is an indicator of the growing geo-political tensions within the Asian region. More importantly, it highlights the potential that Myanmar has to unify China and Russia’s stance against what they view as the USA’s geo-political and ideological threat.
This Sino-Russia unification is being facilitated by developments along the China Belt Road Initiative (BRI), in which the China Myanmar Economic Corridor is playing an increasing role. As mentioned in earlier articles, Myanmar and the port of Kyauk Phyu, provides China with a solution for energy and trade security by allowing China to bypass the Malacca Straits. It also shifts the previous relations between China, Russia and Myanmar from being military in design to that built around trade.
This is in direct contrast to the US and UN pushing for more sanctions against Myanmar over what they see as human rights violations. Exacerbating this divide, is that the call for increased sanctions comes at a time when Myanmar is further opening its economy through regulatory change..."
Source/publisher:
"Mizzima" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-06
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations, Russia-Burma relations, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
Myanmar’s finance minister has warned the country to “brace for any future unexpected shocks” resulting from the US-China trade war.
Description:
"“Consequences of rising global economic and trade tensions on the financial sector are quicker and more severe as a result of faster global capital flows creating unpredictable currency volatility across the world,” U Soe Win told the Myanmar Global Investment Forum 2019 in Nay Pyi Taw this week.
“Continuous trade tension and possible currency conflict between two large economies; abrupt changes in policy of one major economy taking a hawkish stance one day and then a dovish stance another day ... have been haunting many economies and leaving them with no other choice but to brace for any future unexpected shocks,” he said.
Myanmar, therefore, has to “strengthen our macroeconomic environment to withstand these inevitable global contagion effects.”
The minister told an audience of investors and executives that the government’s efforts have resulted in growth above 6 percent while inflation has been tamed at around 6-7pc. He admitted the country’s transition “may not have been on a bed of roses due to the presence of existing internal and external pressures”. But the administration has ”managed to stabilise our financial sector to some extent by making our monetary and fiscal policy transmissions effective as much as possible with limited financial instruments we have at hand.”
The government previously admitted that it had underestimated the economic impact of the crisis in northern Rakhine..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times"
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-14
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Burma's economic relations with the USA, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"This week, 37 heads of state and government, as well as 5000 participants from over 150 countries, converged on Beijing for the second Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum for International Cooperation. The mammoth gathering of dignitaries and policymakers is crucial for the five-year-old BRI to gain wider recognition and power to move onto the next cycle with new lessons learned and adjustments made. For President Xi Jinping, it will be a moment of truth for his leadership and China’s dream.
All ASEAN leaders, comprising one-quarter of top global leaders, were to attend the forum, which is a testimony to each member’s support and commitment to the global scheme and ongoing projects in their own countries.
Since Thailand is also an early BRI backer and one of its recipients, increased attention has begun to focus on its marathon negotiations with China over the US$12 billion (K18.2 trillion) high-speed railway project, which began with much fanfare at the end of 2015. China watchers are eager to know what challenges and prospects both sides faced over the past four years with their unsettling deal and ever-changing criteria.
Are there lessons to be drawn from the Sino-Thai negotiations? From the beginning, repeated criticism has been heaped on China’s continent-wide BRI. Among key allegations was the toxic “debt trap” for recipient countries and Beijing’s desire to expand its geopolitical influence to challenge the West. Examples from Africa and South Asia were highlighted as the BRI’s dark side..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times"
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-01
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"Non-governmental organizations, political parties, and environmental experts from every state and region in Myanmar have been invited to come together in opposition to the China-financed Myitsone Hydropower Dam project, Frontier Myanmar magazine reported.
So far, only 44 percent of households in Myanmar have access to electricity. Addressing a nationwide power shortage, Myanmar's government has set a target to increase the figure to 50 percent by the end of 2019 and 75 percent by the end of 2025.
According to rough estimates, the design installed capacity of the dam was 6,000 megawatts, with the annual generation capacity tripling the annual power consumption of Myanmar in 2011. That means initially Myanmar's domestic market could not consume the total generation capacity of the dam. But as the domestic demand for power consumption rises in Myanmar, it is likely the Myitsone Hydropower Dam project would supply 100 percent of its electricity to the Myanmar market.
Relevant research shows that the building of the Myitsone Hydropower Dam will improve the traditional way of living of locals who rely on agriculture and hunting and contribute to ecological protection.
The protest against the Myitsone Hydropower Dam is not conducive to reaching these goals.
Some politicians and environmental experts who have participated in the campaign enjoy priority use of electricity, but their protests against the dam leave many others to live in the dark..."
Source/publisher:
"Burma Rivers Network" via Global Times
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-01
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Dams and other hydropower projects (global, regional), Assessment of hydropower projects in Burma/Myanmar, Dams and other projects on the Irrawaddy and its tributories, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
The US and its allies must engage more directly with Myanmar, lest China’s influence derail its democratic potential.
Description:
"Kachin and Shan states are home to two of the country’s longstanding ethnic conflicts. Fighting between Myanmar’s military and the ethnic militias creates security concerns for Beijing as the conflict sends a rising tide of refugees into China and negatively affects China-Myanmar trade through the border states. In 2011, renewed fighting between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army drove thousands of Kachin to flee to China, seeking refuge in Yunnan province. These refugee flows across the border draws unwanted international attention to China. Such publicity puts spotlights on China’s own human rights abuses, whether it be against ethnic minorities like the Uyghurs or the forced repatriation of North Korean escapees.
China also sees Myanmar’s geographic location and rich natural resources as strategic economic opportunities. As part of President Xi Jinping’s ambitious infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative, to connect China with Asia, Europe, and Africa, the Chinese are injecting billions of dollars into Myanmar, developing a deep-water port, high-speed railways, natural gas pipelines, and Chinese-style special economic zones.
Beyond these security concerns and economic interests, China is trying to increase its political and social influence in Myanmar as well. China has supported Myanmar at the United Nations Security Council throughout the Rohingya crisis, which has forced more than 700,000 Rohingyas — a Muslim ethnic minority group — to flee to neighboring Bangladesh to escape military atrocities.
By supporting Myanmar’s government on the Rohingya crisis, Beijing increases its popularity among the Burmese, most of whom refer to the Rohingyas as “Bengalis,” illegal immigrants that do not belong in their country. While China has given the government a pass for its scorched earth policies, the United States and other democracies have condemned Myanmar for its wide-scale human rights violations and systematic legal and social discrimination against the Rohingya people..."
Source/publisher:
"The Diplomat"
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-15
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Burma's economic relations with the USA, “One Belt, One Road” initiative, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
As Bangkok cosies up to Beijing, Naypidaw is drawing away – giving the US an opportunity for a new strategic partnership in the region
Description:
"With the presidential election in the United States getting nearer, there is one country where the outcome could have far-reaching consequences: Myanmar.
Donald Trump has not said anything noteworthy about Southeast Asia, but Hillary Clinton, who is leading in the polls, is a close friend of Myanmar’s State Counsellor and de facto head of government, Aung San Suu Kyi. There is not doubt that Clinton would feel more comfortable dealing with her than the generals who now rule America’s traditional ally in the region, Thailand.Myanmar’s drift away from its previously close economic, political and military relationship with China – and the Thai government’s increasingly close ties with Beijing – opens the possibility of a new strategic partner for the US in the region..."
Source/publisher:
"The Week In Asia"
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-14
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
The Chinese-backed Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone is shaping Myanmar’s conflict with the Arakan Army. Rakhine communities will benefit little from the project while bearing many of the costs, and it ignores their calls for control over the area’s natural
Description:
"Resource-rich Ramree Island, on the coast of Myanmar’s Rakhine State, has remained on the sidelines of recent violence as fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) continues to intensify. But the Myanmar government’s relations with the AA are now increasingly shaped by pressure from Beijing to advance the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a US$1.3 billion Chinese-backed development project based on Ramree.
The Myanmar government and Chinese state-owned CITIC Group are pushing the Kyaukphyu SEZ ahead despite public opposition. There has been limited transparency and inadequate public consultation with communities affected by the project.
The movement for Rakhine autonomy and federalism calls for local control of natural resources as a key tenet. If the National League for Democracy (NLD) government moves ahead with the Kyaukphyu projects without addressing these issues, it risks prolonging the conflict with the AA, making repatriation for the Rohingya increasingly risky and unlikely.
“The communities hope to have their own laws, their own management, their own regulation of natural resources and government – that’s why the Rakhine people support the AA, because they want their rights,” Tun Kyi, a spokesperson for the community-based organisation the Kyaukphyu Rural Development Association, told ASEAN Today..."
Source/publisher:
"ASEAN Today"
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-10
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Arakan (Rakhine) State - reports etc. by date (latest first), Armed conflict in Rakhine (Arakan) State, Burma's economic relations with China, Other Special Economic Zones, “One Belt, One Road” initiative, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"နိုင်ငံတော်အတိုင်ပင်ခံပုဂ္ဂိုလ် ဒေါ်အောင်ဆန်းစုကြည်ဟာ တရုတ်နိုင်ငံမှာ ဒီကနေ့ ဒုတိယနေ့အဖြစ် ကျင်းပနေတဲ့ ခေတ်သစ်ပိုးလမ်းမစီမံကိန်းဆိုင်ရာ ထိပ်သီးညီလာခံကိုတက်ရောက်နေပါတယ်။ ဒီနေ့ ညီလာခံနဲ့ စီမံကိန်းအကြောင်း RFA ဝိုင်းတော်သား ကိုကျော်မင်းထွန်းက စုစည်းတင်ပြထားပါတယ်။..."
Source/publisher:
RFA Burmese လွတ်လပ်တဲ့အာရှအသံ
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-08
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"Lowy Institute East Asia Research Fellow Aaron L Connelly speaks to the BBC's Sharanjit Leyl about the purpose and implications of a new China-Myanmar oil pipeline..."
Source/publisher:
BBC World News
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-07
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
Frontier Services Group (FSG), founded by former US military contractor Erik Prince, says it is moving into Myanmar to provide security services to Chinese and other foreign investors.
Description:
"Blackwater, a now-defunct private military contractor founded by Mr Prince, was condemned internationally after its employees allegedly opened fire on a Baghdad street in 2007, killing at least 14 civilians. Mr Prince later sold Blackwater, which then changed its name. While FSG focuses on logistics and security instead of paramilitary operations, the HK-listed firm sparked controversy earlier this year when it released and then deleted a statement on plans to build a training camp in west China’s Xinjiang region.
“As a Hong Kong-listed company, FSG has established a joint-venture security company in Myanmar and obtained a security licence to provide international-standard security services to international investors in Myanmar, including those from China, Japan and Thailand,” a FSG spokesperson told The Myanmar Times. He declined to comment on the specifics of the operations in the country.
FSG (Myanmar) Security Services Co Ltd is registered as a foreign services company, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). Last month it advertised for 30 security personnel in Myanmar. DICA’s company profile of the joint venture lists Daw Sandar Win (Myanmar), Shi Yi (China), Zhang Huagang (China), Tan Qing (China) and U Si Thu (Myanmar) as directors. Daw Sandar Win is believed to be the sister of U Kyaw Win, who owns Shwe Than Lwin Media, the parent company of SkyNet.
FSG’s 2017 annual report also stated that the Myanmar venture is “overseen by Shi Yi, John”, while the 2018 interim report added that the Myanmar subsidiary provides logistics and security services..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times"
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-06
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
Local URL:
more
Sub-title:
The environmental and social impact assessment process for the China-backed port project in central Rakhine has started but questions arise whether developers are using the right legal framework.
Description:
"State-owned enterprise CITIC, in charge of the proposed US$1.3 billion Kyaukphyu port, kick-started the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) and preliminary geological survey this month.
The company said Canadian firm Hatch was hired as project manager to supervise the process and recruit the ESIA project consultants and contractors.
On July 2, CITIC held the first stakeholder meetings at the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Management Committee office in Yangon, and made site visits to the Madae Island.
It said it would “develop participation mechanisms for all stakeholders of the project in order to take extensive and adequate consultation” as part of the ESIA process. The preparation work will be carried out “in a rigorous, open and transparent manner.”
The idea of building a port and an industrial park in Kyaukphyu was mooted by the U Thein Sein government in 2015, which greenlighted the consortium led by CITIC to come up with a plan to establish a $7.5 billion SEZ in central Rakhine. A corporate promotional video suggests the scheme will create an investment and logistics hub akin to Hong Kong and Singapore. The government last November signed a “framework agreement” with CITIC. Myanmar will own 30 percent of the stake and the project will cost $1.3 billion. European and Japanese investors are unlikely to set up shop in the port or the industrial park, Yangon-based sources said.
However, confusion arises over the legal framework currently adopted by the developers. Myanmar’s environmental law demands a site-wide environmental impact assessment for a project of this size and scope, which should include an assessment of both environmental and social impacts.
CITIC’s latest press statement suggests that its current ESIA process is specifically for the port and not an SEZ.
If there’s to be an SEZ, that must be incorporated in the site-wise assessment, according to ICJ legal adviser Sean Bain. If the SEZ plan is scrapped and only a port project is planned, then it’s likely CITIC is operating under the wrong legal framework because the Investment Law would apply instead of the SEZ Law..."
Source/publisher:
Myanmar Times
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-02
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Other Special Economic Zones, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma-US relations
Language:
Local URL:
more
Description:
"When Myanmar?s leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, wanted to hold a peace conference to end her country?s long-burning insurgencies, a senior Chinese diplomat went to work.
The official assembled scores of rebel leaders, many with longstanding connections to China, briefed them on the peace gathering and flew them on a chartered plane to Myanmar?s capital. There, after being introduced to a beaming Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, they were wined and dined, and sang rowdy karaoke late into the night.
A cease-fire may still be a long way off, but the gesture neatly illustrates how Myanmar, a former military dictatorship that the United States worked hard to press toward democracy, is now depending on China to help solve its problems.
The pieces all fell into place for China: It wanted peace in Myanmar to protect its new energy investments, it had the leverage to press the rebels and it found an opening to do a favor for Myanmar to deliver peace.
China is now able to play its natural role in Myanmar in a more forceful way than ever before as the United States under the Trump administration steps back from more than six years of heavy engagement in Myanmar, including some tentative contacts with some of the rebels. The vacuum left by the United States makes China?s return all the easier..."
Jane Perlez
Source/publisher:
"New York Times"
Date of publication:
2017-07-19
Date of entry/update:
2017-12-01
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations
Language:
English, Chinese (Alternate Url)
Local URL:
more
Description:
"China?s rise means the US will turn a blind eye to Burma?s limited democracy, writes Gareth Robinson...
The recent upholding of constitutional rules preventing Aung San Suu Kyi from running in Burma?s 2015 presidential elections has prompted some strong criticism from Western governments.
However, it is unlikely to damage America?s resolve to continue engaging with the country for one reason in particular; China?s rising power in the region.
In a recent article for The Irrawaddy, journalist and long-time Burma hand Bertil Lintner argued that Western governments may be more interested in re-establishing defence ties with Burma?s military, the Tatmadaw, than with pursuing political and human rights issues.
It is an argument supported by the State Department?s muted response to Aung San Suu Kyi?s continued barring from presidential elections. Although the department did issue a statement calling for constitutional reforms to be adopted, there was no threat of introducing new sanctions or of downgrading diplomatic ties.
The US?s continuing support for the Burmese hybrid civilian-military government is a clear sign that Washington?s concern over China?s growing regional presence is of greater importance than democratic reform. In the past China has exerted a great deal of influence over Burma. After much of the world abandoned the country due to the annulment of democratic elections in 1990, China continued to provide significant economic and military aid to keep Burma afloat.
This wasn?t resisted by the US because it did not perceive strong strategic interests in the country after the end of the Cold War. Since the opening of Burma to external economic and political input after the 2010 national elections, China has lost its exclusive access to the country. Now, Burma may become a rook in America?s attempts to mediate Chinese expansion...Given the time and attention, Burma could become one of America?s middle power partners in Asia. But this may cost the US its commitment to seeing the country become a fully functional and effective democracy..."
Gareth Robinson
Source/publisher:
"Asia Times Online"
Date of publication:
2014-08-14
Date of entry/update:
2014-08-22
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations
Language:
English
Local URL:
more
Description:
"If a press statement from the US Department of Defense is to be believed, President Barack Obama is quite pleased with the reform process underway in Myanmar, especially recent progress ??that?s been made on human rights??. The message was conveyed by US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in late August when he met with his counterparts from the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Brunei, including Lieutenant-General Wai Lwin, the current defense minister of Myanmar, a former pariah state turned darling of the West.
But there was an important caveat in Hagel?s statement that indicated Washington?s main concern in Myanmar is not
democracy and human rights. Rather, he stressed ??it?s important that Myanmar sever ties with North Korea??.
Evidently Myanmar has not rolled back relations with Pyongyang despite persistent pressure from Washington, including during then secretary of state Hillary Clinton?s historic visit to Myanmar in December 2011, and believed behind-the-scenes prodding from Japan and South Korea..."
Bertil Lintner
Source/publisher:
"Asia Times Online"
Date of publication:
2013-09-05
Date of entry/update:
2014-05-29
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations, North Korea (DPRK) -Burma relations, USA-Burma relations, Navy, Arms (Military Expenditure, Arms Transfers, Arms Production Etc)
Language:
English
Local URL:
more
Description:
KEY FINDINGS:
1.
The prolonged Kachin conflict is a
major obstacle to Myanmar?s national
reconciliation and a challenging test
for the democratization process.
2.
The KIO and the Myanmar
government differ on the priority
between the cease-fire and the political
dialogue. Without addressing this
difference, the nationwide peace
accord proposed by the government
will most likely lack the KIO?s
participation.
3.
The disagreements on terms have
hindered a formal cease-fire. In addition, the existing economic interest groups profiting from the armed
conflict have further undermined the
prospect for progress.
4.
China intervened in the Kachin negotiations in 2013 to protect its national
interests. A crucial motivation was a
concern about the ?internationalization” of the Kachin issue and the potential US role along the Chinese border.
5.
Despite domestic and external
pressure, the US has refrained from
playing a formal and active role in the
Kachin conflict. The need to balance
the impact on domestic politics in
Myanmar and US-China relations are
factors in US policy.
6.A
The US has attempted to discuss
various options of cooperation with
China on the Kachin issue. So far,
such attempts have not been accepted
by China.
Yun Sun
Source/publisher:
Stimson Center (Great Powers and the Changing Myanmar - Issue Brief No. 2)
Date of publication:
2013-12-31
Date of entry/update:
2014-01-23
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations, China-Burma relations, Armed conflict in Kachin State - economic factors associated with the conflict, Armed conflict in Kachin State - general articles
Language:
English
Local URL:
more
Description:
"A quiet, modulated dance is being played out in Myanmar. It is not a waltz, with its rhythmical, proper movements, and only on the surface are events in Myanmar equally decorous. If China and the United States are the dancers, then Myanmar is the master of ceremonies. Underlying this proper facade rivalries are apparent. When and how the music will stop is unclear.
The US explicitly has ??pivoted?? toward Asia, and more specifically Southeast Asia. It has in a sense returned after years of inattention. This policy has several elements: some enhanced naval capacity in the region, a couple of thousand marines in
China counter-pivots on Myanmar
By David I Steinberg
WASHINGTON - A quiet, modulated dance is being played out in Myanmar. It is not a waltz, with its rhythmical, proper movements, and only on the surface are events in Myanmar equally decorous. If China and the United States are the dancers, then Myanmar is the master of ceremonies. Underlying this proper facade rivalries are apparent. When and how the music will stop is unclear.
The US explicitly has ??pivoted?? toward Asia, and more specifically Southeast Asia. It has in a sense returned after years of inattention. This policy has several elements: some enhanced naval capacity in the region, a couple of thousand marines in
Australia, increased positive involvement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and allies in the Philippines and Thailand as well as near-ally Singapore, and concerns over Chinese claims of sovereignty of the South China Sea.
But in this equation, China regards with suspicion the US?s changed, positive policy toward Myanmar, also known as Burma. Chinese concerns are evident. This, they claim, is the second US containment policy of China. The first was during the Cold War, but this second is in some sense more urgent. China during the Cold War was struck by the internally destructive forces of the Cultural Revolution. It tried to project Maoist thought through its embassies overseas, but this was internal political rhetoric, not external reality..."
David I Steinberg
Source/publisher:
"Asia Times Online"
Date of publication:
2013-03-18
Date of entry/update:
2013-05-31
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations
Language:
English
Local URL:
more
Description:
CONCLUSION:
"As the Obama administration is keen to support Thein Sein?s dual project of political reconciliation and
economic reforms, with China?s rise clearly in mind, the geopolitical competition over Myanmar between
Washington and Beijing is set to intensify. The present US role in Myanmar?s political and economic reforms
will in all likelihood lead in the future to a greatly expanded presence in the country. By comparison, China?s
often much exaggerated political hold over Naypyidaw has taken a knock with US-Myanmar rapprochement.
Its significant economic presence in Myanmar will continue, however. Significantly, far from pulling back, the
Chinese leadership also seems eager to continue to boost the bilateral relationship with Naypyidaw, which
will probably prompt more rounds of competition for greater influence between Beijing and Washington
concerning Myanmar.
By normalising relations with Washington, Naypyidaw will have gone some way to restoring the balance
historically favoured in Myanmar?s external relations. To progress with its domestic reform agenda, the Thein
Sein government seems committed both to warmer relations with Washington as well as pursuing the
comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership it agreed with China. However, evidence suggests that the
Thein Sein government knows it will need to carefully manage the attention and interest from both Beijing
and Washington.
Finally, one should not assume that developments in Myanmar over the next three years will necessarily
amount to an entirely smooth political transition. So far the NLD has been the major beneficiary in party
political terms from the present process of reconciliation long urged by Washington. With the political future
of representatives and officials of the previous regime possibly in doubt, there is at least the question over
how much internal pressure the President will yet face and be able to resist regarding a possible recalibration
of the current political course and concessions in the name of national reconciliation. In turn, the resulting
decisions of this process are likely to affect Nypyidaw?s relationship with Washington and Beijing."
Jürgen Haacke
Source/publisher:
London School of Economics (LSE)
Date of publication:
2012-10-31
Date of entry/update:
2013-05-31
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations
Language:
English
Local URL:
more
Description:
"...America bids to remove Myanmar from China?s sphere of influence and intervenes in the Spratly Islands dispute.
Whilst not totally out of the blue, the visit to Myanmar by Hillary Clinton, the United States Secretary of State, in November 2011, came as a surprise to many Chinese leaders. Notwithstanding the quasi-democratic election of Myanmar?s new president, Thein
Sein, supported by the military junta, the country had in fact failed to make much headway on humanitarian issues.
The dissident Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi was still under house arrest and a true democratic system, which for 20 years had been the official reason for American hostility towards Myanmar, had not yet been implemented. So why did the United States rush to support a junta which for decades it had heavily berated?
In 1972, with Richard Nixon?s Beijing visit, the Chinese had had first-hand experience of such political gyrations. In that period, the Americans had rehabilitated China in order to isolate Vietnam and at the same time strike a formidable blow against the Soviet Union, which would find itself with one more declared adversary on its southern border, and, what is more, an adversary supported by the United States.
Just as in the 1970s when the United States used China to isolate the USSR, now they were going to play the Myanmar card in order to complete the encirclement of China. This was the logical conclusion that the Chinese leaders came to in light of their past political experience.
In reality, this paradigm change was not totally unexpected. At the beginning of his presidency, in 2009, in his dealings with the Chinese, Barack Obama had gone out on a limb, quietly downplaying human rights issues and even offering to sell them sensitive technology..."
Francesco Sisci
Source/publisher:
"Asia Times Online"
Date of publication:
2012-09-12
Date of entry/update:
2013-05-30
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations
Language:
English
Local URL:
more
Description:
"...A new reality is emerging amid all the hype about Myanmar?s democratization process and moves to liberalize its political landscape. Myanmar?s drift away from a tight relationship with China towards closer links with the West is signaling the emergence of a new focal point of confrontation in Asia, one where the interests of Washington and Beijing are beginning to collide.
Rather than being on a path to democracy, Myanmar may find itself instead in the middle of a dangerous and potentially volatile superpower rivalry. That means the traditionally powerful military may not be in the mood to give up its dominant role in politics and society any time soon.
According to sources in Washington, US President Barack Obama?s administration has made Myanmar one of its top foreign policy priorities. Trade and other exchanges are being encouraged, and, on April 25, acting US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Joseph Yun told Congress the administration is even "looking at ways to support nascent military engagement" with Myanmar as a way of encouraging "further political reforms"..."
Bertil Lintner
Source/publisher:
"Asia Times Online"
Date of publication:
2013-05-02
Date of entry/update:
2013-05-30
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations
Language:
English
Local URL:
more
Description:
"...As evidenced by Chinese policies toward pariah states like Sudan, Zimbabwe, Burma and Iran, China is still willing to put its need for markets and raw materials above the need to promote internationally accepted norms of behavior. However, the possible secession of southern Sudan (where much of the country?s oil is found) from the repressive Khartoum-based Bashir regime, the erratic treatment of foreign economic interests in Zimbabwe by Robert Mugabe, the dangers to regional safety and stability posed by Burma?s dysfunctional military junta,
Source/publisher:
US Embassy, Beijing, via Wikileaks
Date of publication:
2009-01-06
Date of entry/update:
2010-12-26
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations
Language:
English
Local URL:
more
Description:
Summary: "If the United States wants to make a difference on
Burma, it should engage directly with General Than Shwe,
Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai told EAP DAS Eric John
on March 5. In a separate meeting, MFA Director General for
Asian Affairs Hu Zhengyue stressed that State Councilor Tang
"really worked on" the Burmese during his recent visit to
Burma, delivering the message that Burma needs to respond to
the concerns of the international community. DAS John
underlined that the United States is worried that Burma is
headed at high speed in the wrong direction. If it adopts a
constitution excluding certain parties from the political
process, the United States and China could be locked into a
cycle of confrontation over Burma at the United Nations. DAS
John and AFM Cui also discussed the United States? and
China?s overlapping interests in Southeast Asia. With DG Hu,
DAS John emphasized the importance of Indonesia and discussed
instability in East Timor, positive progress in the
Philippines and the situation in post-coup Thailand. EAP DAS
Thomas Christensen joined DAS John at the meetings." End
Summary.
Source/publisher:
US Embassy, Beijing, via Wikileaks
Date of publication:
2007-03-05
Date of entry/update:
2010-12-24
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Local URL:
more
Description:
First page only, full-text access may be available if you are affiliated with a participating library or publisher.
Source/publisher:
JSTOR
Date of entry/update:
2010-10-12
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations
Language:
English
Local URL:
more
Description:
China is concerned over the possibility of betterment of relations between the U.S. and Burma, local sources say.
The Chinese government?s security agents on the Sino-Burma, say that China feels betterment of relations between the U.S. and Burma will threaten the national security of communist China.
Source/publisher:
Burma News International
Date of publication:
2009-11-04
Date of entry/update:
2010-10-12
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma-US relations
Language:
English
Local URL:
more
Description:
Burma?s generals have a history of juggling relations with Washington and Beijing...
"If ever the Burmese regime made it clear it preferred ?Made in America? to ?Made in China,? it would be no surprise to see relations between China and Burma suffer a severe hiccup.
China is now keenly observing Washington?s new policy toward the Burmese regime and Burma?s opposition movement. At the same time, Beijing is observing the unpredictable Naypyidaw regime?s paukphaw (kinship) commitment to China.
Burma?s former dictator, Ne Win, (left) met then US President Lyndon Johnson in 1966.
Burmese military officers used Western weapons to counter Chinese-backed insurgents in the past. They have long memories of Chinese chauvinism and Beijing?s efforts to export communism to Burma and install a government sympathetic to Mao Zedong?s communist ideology.
Those days are long gone. China became Burma?s staunchest ally after the regime brutally crushed the pro-democracy uprising in 1988. For the past 21 years, China has adopted its paukphaw policy toward Burma and played an influential role there..."
Aung Zaw
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 17, No. 8
Date of publication:
2009-10-31
Date of entry/update:
2010-02-28
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Local URL:
more