China, Deal or No Deal?

Remember, the growing economy and prosperity of China is under the careful scrutiny of the democratic world for sometimes. China’s aggressive seeking of energy by supporting dictators around the globe in addition to its hostile behavior against the democratic society has caused some disappointments for the free world nowadays. The major powers like EU and the US start to doubt whether China is their friend or foe in this case. They also begin to fear China’s quiet cooperation with some of the dictators in the middle-east, who definitely have connection with terrorists and who have a nuclear ambition posting a threat to the sustainable stability of the world. In fact, China needs to show its positive attitude in order to clear up those dark clouds hanging over the free world.

Burma has become the most important trouble spot in Asia now. That was why the Burma’s crisis drew the attention of the UNSC to do something about it. And, the US and EU’s effort to take action against the regime in Burma under the mandate of UNSC was vetoed by China and Russia. For China’s part, we understand that it does not want to loose the influence on Burma by allowing the intervention of the European nations opening up Burma to become a European like democracy that will post a threat to the stability of China. But Burma under the leadership of NLD like other ASEAN nation will adopt its own style of democracy in harmony with China historically and traditionally.

Without regarding dire of all aspects in Burma, the SPDC simply ignored the international calls to honor the results of 1990 elections and instead threw scores of elected representatives and then kill dissidents hundred and arrest activists more than a thousand in prisons today. It still is riddled with gross human rights abuses, forced labor, child labor, drug producing and trafficking, in addition to a party in killing former political prisoners and student activists. The corruption and graft are running rampant in the rank and file of the ruling hierarchy from Than Shwe, down to Maung Aye, Shwe Mann and all the way to the lowly private. Hence, the country’s economy is in shambles, beyond repair at the moment, leading in turn to sky rocketing daily cost of living of the citizenry at the moment. The worst of all the corruption and lack of the rule of infrastructure in Burma have post an obstacle for any nations including China to make economic relationship with Burma under the current military rule.

China has been Burma’s long time close ally, neighbor and member in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) since U Nu’s tenure as the elected Prime Minister of Burma in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Moreover, Burma occupies a central and crucial position in the trade route between China and Southeast Asia . As a result, Thailand and countries in the ASEAN are backing Than Shwe’s regime despite its pariah status and to go on exploiting Burma’s vast wealth in natural and human resources for their own ends. In addition, access to China for those nations like India and Bangladesh obviously needs cooperation with the regime in Burma.

Given the facts, China stands to gain more from Burma via trade and others when Burma regains its ’second independence’ from the illegal ruling junta and the rule of law and other proper administrative infrastructures are in order again in the country.

As a result, China in the long run will have no other alternative than to exercise its utmost efforts to affect a just and viable solution to pull Burma and Burmese people out of this prevailing quagmire of a political mess.

Victor Naing (88 Generation)