Amid Crisis and Conflict in Myanmar, China Seizes Opportunities to Maintain Its Interests: Analyst in Southeast Asia
China is taking steps to safeguard its significant investments in the neighboring, conflict-ridden country of Burma.
News Analysis
Amidst the many reasons Burma (also known as Myanmar) is making headlines, China’s involvement forms a common thread. It influences the civil war escalation, mediation efforts, and broader aspects like politics, foreign policy, trade, defense, and neighboring relations in the context of this Southeast Asian country.
Since a military junta led by army general Min Aung Hlaing overthrew the elected government in February 2021, Burma has been embroiled in civil conflict. This resistance movement, comprised of disparate rebel groups, has seen momentum since October 2023 when three armed groups formed an alliance, resulting in losses for the junta.
A report by the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) released on May 30 described the conflict’s dynamics over the past two years as a battle between an expanding resistance control and the corresponding military junta losses.
Despite the ongoing turmoil, China continues to pursue its economic interests and investments in Burma.
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Recent developments on May 23 saw the establishment of a new leadership committee by Burma’s ministry of information to further the construction of the Beijing-backed Myitsone Dam amidst heightened border conflict. This hydropower project along the Irrawaddy River has faced opposition for over a decade due to environmental concerns and resource distribution issues, even after the 2020 visit of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping.
As responsibility grows for managing public relations regarding the Myitsone Dam project, collaboration between the information ministry and China’s SPIC Yunnan International Power Investment company is anticipated.
Experts like southeast Asian analyst Shristi Pukhrem point to China’s significant interests in Myanmar’s civil war, emphasizing economic, strategic, and security motives. The Myitsone Dam project, a key component of Xi’s China-Myanmar Economic Corridor under BRI, showcases the economic importance for China.
In the context of BRI, which includes the Yunnan-Rakhine Corridor—linking Yunnan to Burma’s central regions, then southwards to Yangon and Rakhine state—China has invested heavily in infrastructure projects like the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port and pipelines, solidifying its presence in Burma.
Considering its historical ties with ethnic armed groups in Burma and the shared border, China engages in the nation’s conflict to safeguard its interests, manage potential destabilization, and counterbalance regional influences like India. The complex web of economic, political, and security factors underscores China’s intricate diplomatic and strategic game plan in Burma.
Recognizing the repercussions of this instability, China initiated live-fire drills along the border with Burma after the crucial border town of Chinshwehaw fell to the rebels on November 1, 2023. The conflict on China’s doorstep further underscores the regional complexities that demand decisive action and diplomatic finesse from China.
Subsequent ceasefire negotiations between the Burmese military junta and the 3BTA, mediated by China in Kunming, exemplify China’s dual role as an economic power-player and a peace broker. By leveraging its economic might, China continues to influence political trajectories and maintain its dominance in Burma’s tumultuous landscape.
