Myanmar-China relations

For all the noise and heat generated by advocates of the boycott-Myanmar (formerly Burma) lobby, their argument is ultimately futile.

Not because they are campaigning from a position of morals versus money or even from a stand of principles against pragmatism but simply because China, Myanmar's huge neighbor to the north, will have nothing to do with it.

Everything Myanmar needs in terms of basic material goods, China can provide.

And with the arrival of Li Peng on an official visit today (Monday), Beijing is also extending to the SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) leaders something they crave more than anything else -- some heavyweight international recognition.

Since the leaders of both countries rolled out their armies to crush the democracy uprisings in the late 1980s, the two ruling regimes have experienced the chill of international isolation and condemnation.

China has managed to buy its way back into favor because nobody could resist its huge burgeoning market. Poor little Myanmar, mismanaged for decades has found friends harder to come buy -- except for China.

From a country seen as the nation's No. 1 ideological foe only a few years ago, China has quickly become the Myanmarese government's biggest backer and has provided the country with both military and non-lethal assistance.

Chinese goods now flood Myanmarese markets and Yangon has allowed the Chinese to set up military listening posts on islands near the strategic Malacca Straits.

There is even talk in Beijing of Myanmar becoming a land bridge for China to project its strategic interests into the Indian Ocean, as well as a gateway to the Middle Kingdom's industrial heartland.

But while the Myanmarese junta can expect support from China they will find no relief in Beijing from the constant pressure for democracy simmering up beneath them.

The reason is that both leaderships are bedeviled by the same problem -- a lack of legitimacy.

Along with Deng there are only three party leaders left alive from the days of the Long March. Since China abandoned socialism for capitalism the party has effectively lost its mandate to rule.

The communists can no longer justify their hold on governments and the economic reform's Deng unleashed 15 years ago are rapidly whittling away their power.

The SLORC, which refused to hand over power after losing a general election, is suffering similarly and must use the same iron-fisted means to stay in power.

-- The Nation, Bangkok