Myanmar, under pressure, seeks support from China<\/p>\n
John Ruwitch, Reuters, Beijing<\/p>\n
Myanmar's junta, under pressure to move toward democracy and free
\nNobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, sent Prime Minister Khin Nyunt
\nto China this week to seek reassurances from an influential
\nbenefactor and friend.<\/p>\n
The third-most senior general in the army-ruled Southeast
\nAsian country will get what he came for, analysts say, even
\nthough Beijing is increasingly aware of the benefits to be gained
\nfrom using its influence to help solve international problems.<\/p>\n
China and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, will sign a raft
\nof deals to enhance economic and government cooperation during
\nthe seven-day official goodwill visit that started on Sunday,
\nChina's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Khin Nyunt, invited by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, would also
\nmeet President Hu Jintao, parliament chief Wu Bangguo and state
\nsecurity czar Luo Gan.<\/p>\n
The Myanmar leader can rely on Beijing's leaders to steer
\nclear of harsh criticism and eschew the pressure tactics others
\nhave used for being slow to move towards democracy, analyst say.<\/p>\n
\"China and Myanmar have all along maintained relations of
\nclose cooperation,\" said Zhang Xizhen, of Peking University's
\nSchool of International Relations.<\/p>\n
\"I'm afraid Myanmar needs even closer ties with China under
\nconditions of increasing pressure from the international
\ncommunity,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Just last week, the United States renewed its long-standing
\nban on trade with Myanmar for another year and called on other
\ncountries to join in pressing the junta to live up to its
\ncommitments to \"restore full democracy and human rights\".<\/p>\n
Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
\nhad also applied pressure.<\/p>\n
For China, Myanmar is a key ally in ASEAN, with whom Beijing
\nis negotiating a free trade deal, and it is a buffer with long-
\ntime Chinese rival India. Beijing wants little more than a stable
\nand friendly government in Yangon, analysts say.<\/p>\n
Yet China is well aware that international consensus is that
\nMyanmar's military government needs to make concrete steps toward
\ndemocracy, improve its human rights record and free opposition
\nleader Suu Kyi who has been detained since May last year.<\/p>\n
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won Myanmar's last
\ndemocratic election in 1990, but was never allowed to take power.<\/p>\n
Beijing has also learned through the pivotal role it has
\nchosen to play in the North Korean nuclear crisis talks that
\nwielding influence to resolve international problems can bring
\nmaterial and diplomatic benefits.<\/p>\n
\"China would want to be seen as playing a helpful role,\" an
\nAsian diplomat said, adding that it would try to avoid being
\naccused of unnecessarily interfering.<\/p>\n
\"I think they would convey their concerns about the
\nsituation,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/myanmar-under-pressure-seeks-support-from-china-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}