New approach needed to engage China on Burma
Posted on September 14, 2009
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If the West wants China’s help in bringing about change in Burma, it needs to adopt a new strategy says a new report from the International Crisis Group (ICG).
The report, entitled China’s Myanmar Dilemma, notes, “China will not engage with Myanmar on terms dictated by the West.”
Instead, it says, “To bring Beijing on board, the wider international community will need to pursue a plausible strategy that takes advantage of areas of common interest.”
Unfortunately, while many see China, Burma’s closest international ally, as crucial in pushing Burma to reform, ICG says their influence is overstated.
The report describes the relationship between the two countries as a marriage of convenience rather than a love match. It notes, “Political instability and uncertainty have resulted in a lack of confidence in Myanmar’s investment environment, and weak governance and widespread corruption have made it difficult for even strong Chinese companies to operate there.”
Furthermore, ICG says, “Myanmar’s borders continue to leak all sorts of problems – not just insurgency, but also drugs, HIV/AIDS and, recently, tens of thousands of refugees.”
China’s concerns with the regime in Burma were highlighted recently, when thousands of Kokang refugees fled into China to escape fighting in northern Burma (see: Ethnic Kokang flee to China). According to the UNHCR, 37,000 people crossed the border to escape three days of fighting.
The report also highlights the different approaches to Burma used by the West and China, with Beijing preferring to take a hands-off approach.
“After two decades of failed international approaches to Myanmar, Western countries and Beijing must find better ways to work together to pursue a wide array of issues that reflect the concerns of both sides,” says the report.
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