"Before the West started paying real attention to the Rohingya crisis, Myanmar?s democratic transition was something of a cause celebre. But in reality, the country is still under military sway, and the democratic West is still less influential in Myanmar than China. Beijing?s interests are still a decisive economic influence in the country, which is clearly a potentially crucial partner in China?s gargantuan Belt and Road initiative.To be sure, China is just one of Myanmar?s heavyweight international protectors, which also include Russia and India. These three countries all share certain urgent concerns, among them the threat of militant radical Islamism. Connections have been drawn between Rohingya militants and Pakistani extremist groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, this just as Beijing is increasing pressure on Pakistan to curb its support for fundamentalist groups that could threaten Chinese interests in Asia. As it surveys this troubling map ? which also includes an insurgency among the Uighur Muslims of China?s own Xinjiang province ? Beijing views Myanmar?s crackdown not as a domestic problem for a junior partner, but as another front in a wider struggle for stability. And just as Myanmar fits into that particular Chinese strategy, it also has a part to play in various others..."