China wants stability in Burma

China wishes the regime to remain in power.

The Chinese would like some cosmetic changes.
Cosmetic changes might hide the regime’s ugly face from the free world.
This would lessen pressure from the peoples of the free world.

These pressures are being turned increasingly upon the regime’s foreign backers, notably China.

The regime’s foreign backers have much to fear from free-world pressures.
When free-world governments (which are often over-concerned for commercial interests) fail to act, consumers can play a role.

The Chinese have several reasons for wishing to see no substantial change in Burma.
One of the most important reasons is that they can buy up Burma’s natural resources cheaply.

Companies based in the free world would like to exploit Burma’s natural resources.
But there are pressures upon them that make it either difficult or impossible.

So China (with India trying to copy her) is able to buy cheaply,
because there is no serious competition.

The Than Shwe regime is selling off Burma’s irreplaceable natural resources on the cheap.
Part of the payment is not money.
Part of the payment is support to keep the regime in power.

The natural resouces of Burma are being wasted.
The money is not being used to build the wealth of the future.
The wealth of the future depends upon the education and well-being of the people and on industrial and commercial development.

No longer can a country’s wealth depend upon invading and conquering neighbouring countries.
The Than Shwe regime is ignorant of modern realities.

Patriotic officers of the Tatmadaw must realize that the present situation is not in Burma’s interest.
It is in the interest only of the Than Shwe regime and its foreign backers.

Burma must be brought into the free world.
Then it can negotiate full value for its exports.

A democratic Burma will also obtain massive financial support from free-world institutions to help develop its full economic potential.

This means developing its industrial and commercial base and people-centred institutions.
Burma’s greatest wealth is its people.

When Burma is no longer a satellite state of China (or India), when Burma is truly independent and democratic, it has the potential to become the wealthiest country in South-East Asia.

Such a Burma would greatly strengthen the ASEAN bloc in the face of world competition.

Burma’s future is with ASEAN,
not with the Chinese dragon
nor the Indian tiger.