Inside China’s increasing interests in Myanmar
Myanmar is an evidence of China’s increasing interest in Myanmar. In his meeting with Lieutenant General YarPyae, the junta’s home affairs minister, in Beijing, Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong said China always considers China-Myanmar relations from a strategic perspective and is trying to improve them. But the ground reality is not rosy.
China has its limitations. It has brokered a ceasefire deal among warring parties in January but it wants to remain one of the most influential stakeholders in Myanmar’s political crisis. However observers feel that it is time for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to play a bigger role in mediation efforts only.
Raising doubts over China’s real intention. Dr. Brian Wong of the University of Hong Kong insisted on the need of a coordinated approach involving ASEAN, particularly Thailand, to foster sustainable peace in the region. Also observers have cautioned against viewing China’s role in brokering a ceasefire deal among warring factions in January, through a unilateral lens.
Thailand has called for the regional bloc ASEAN to take a more proactive role in trying to resolve crisis in the military-ruled Myanmar, after weeks of fighting near its border that halted trade and led to a brief influx of refugees. In past, ASEAN's attempts at mediating Myanmar's crisis have faced significant hurdles, with the junta's reluctance to adhere to the Five-Point Consensus undermining peace efforts. Amid this impasse, Thailand's new administration under Prime Minister
