Myanmar and America

Goodbye clenched fist, hello sweaty palm

President Barack Obama makes an unprecedented visit to a former pariah

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Readers' comments



Batting Rabbit

Burma is an interesting theatre in the US-China mutual paranoia game given its importance to China and that influence there is still up for grabs. Unlike say North Korea, Taiwan, Iran or Pakistan where relationships are either less sensitive for China or less open to change.

This visit will indeed give China the willies. Let's see how Xi responds. How will he compete with the US attempt to bring Burma into its sphere of influence. No doubt he will continue to offer infrastructure development, commercial investment and trade opportunities. But If he can use soft power and extend friendship he will show the US that China is a more formidable and less clumsy competitor than in the past. Unfortunately China doesn't have a competitive advantage in social development and the strengthening of democratic institutions.

Similarly it will be interesting to see how Xi responds to American attempts to get further into Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Perhaps he'll invite Canada and Mexico to join China in war-game manoeuvres.

ewakorn in reply to Sandaman

I also consider what Mao had committed was a crime, albeit not as heinous as Imperial Japan.

But Japan was principally culpable for CCP's usurping to power. If the Kwantung Army had not plotted the Mukden Incident and forced Chiang Kai Shek to accommodate the Communists (who dwindled to only thousands wounded and tired in 1936), there was no way CCP could take over China in 1949.

Ironically Japan used the faked pretext of anti-Communism, i.e. forging anti-Comintern Pact with Mussolini and Hitler, to start WWII. But the end result is that the Communists, i.e. Chinese & Vietnamese & Korean, were the principal beneficiaries of the Japanese invasion.

Sandaman in reply to wudang wushu

Calm down, dear

First of all I have never denied Nanking incident.
I only argue that the scope of the crime. There are still many points of views regarding the incident, such as;

Barbaric cruelty? How about your parents/grandparents tortuned and murdered 7 million of your own countrymen during the Cultural Revolution?
If Japanese murdered Chinese, barbaric and cruel and criminal?
If Chinese murdered innocent Chinese, just a mistake?
You can explain what kind of logic it is, dear boy.

Were your parents/grandparents victims of the red guards or were they red guards who were victimizers? Did they make just mistakes or barbaric crimes?

chinacat in reply to WIse Old Hindu

"please do not build a dam in Myanmar"
it's ok do not built the dam if they don't want it, but if one day they want a dam built in burma then it's most likely they are going to ask us chinese to build it, no way they are going to ask indians to do that, you indians are just jealousy of our chinese capacity, lol


It would be prudent for Myanmar not to get too close to U.S. for it would bring deaths to the country.

There are so many armed groups and private armies in Myanmar and it is still in one piece mainly due to China's unwavering support with arms and money for the central government of Myanmar. If China feels it is surely and steadily losing Myanmar due to the central government tilting to U.S. and India, it will no doubt do what any military tactician or strategist will do, turn around and support the independence aspiring states and destroy pro-U.S. unified Myanmar.

It is highly possible China will turn Myanmar into a hell where extremely pro-U.S. Aung Sun Suu Kyi will be assassinated and all pro-western allies within Myanmar be killed in a bloodbath of civil war. By this action at least some states will remain pro-beijing. But it would be tragic for Myanmar. This type of action is something Stalin or even present day Putin is perfectly capable of doing in protecting their own country's interests. Remember Stalin killed off 20,000 Polish elite to keep that country down that it cannot threaten Soviet Nation. It is illogical to think that the Beijing folks at the helm are lesser stuff.

It is with hope that Thein Sein can be as smart as Hun Sen of Cambodia and not be the foolhardy Mikhail Gorbachev. Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rogue, turn around ditched the Khmer Rogue and allied himself with the Vietnamese. When the Vietnamese noose become too tight, he turned around and get closer to China. He may seem like a fox but he brings benefit to his nation and also (chuckle) to his own pockets. Who cares as long as he is capable of walking the tightrope and do well for his country.

silent night in reply to wudang wushu

You are very funny and take Obama so seriously.Right,US has an important influence,but China's power need not be approved by US.US can not do what it wants alone just as China does.Underestimated China's strength and overestimate the strength is the same mistake.

Bismarck888 in reply to wolfgang21

wolfgang21 and PL123,

Just because you can't get out of your tree house in Germany, don't blame the US of A.

There would be no Israel if your beloved countrymen (the Germans), you are German are you not, did not gas them.

If it were not for the US of A, you would be speaking Nipponese and bowing to the Emperor all the time.

wolfgang21 in reply to BHARAT PATEL

It is just plain stupid.
It was because of the sanction, isolation to technology, finance etc.
Burma is not going anywhere just trading with Thailand and China.
(But also not going anywhere bright with their multi-culti like you India)
They can see how prosperious after neighbour countries opening up their country for investment. To break the ice, Burma sacrifice China's Dam in exchange a new relationship with the west.
How can China push itself into Burma when Burma don't want it? I wish China can push into India like China did to Burma.

wolfgang21 in reply to Bismarck888

You must read Peter Lee's articles, it is your job to analyze and report to your Boss---CIA.

If it was not the USA, Indians will live peacefully, Japan will not raised up and be bombed later, Israel will not exist in ME. No no Zionist, no Salafist...


US pivot bumps Asian economic reality By Peter Lee

"....But the United States is not in refocusing on Asia for the moral satisfaction of promoting democracy, or even the intangible psychic benefits of protecting its brown and yellow brothers in Asia from themselves with its benevolent military might. As shown by the bloody path of human catastrophe that the United States has created and enabled in the Middle East, the United States' foreign relations are not driven by a compulsion to impose democracy or open economies. ..."

wudang wushu in reply to BobLee1974

You are 100% correct

From the Indian dude "Bharat" comments --- it is clear he and his fellow Indians regards America as "SANTA CLAUS" or "FATHER CHRISTMAS" === who will dish out goodies ---that's why Bharat said "without presidential approval, these people will not progress..." --- no wonder , the Indians seem to be still waiting for Christmas

JINGLE BELLS --- Santa Claus is coming to town ...


Erratic Diplomacy.

This is the proper definition for Mr Obama`s foreign policy.

Missculation from leaders often marks the end of their nations` international status, for expample Gorbachov, Napoleon the Third and what we see today.

Now c'mon mostjustwant


BHARAT P in reply to Mark G.


Republicans like you and I have lost the elections. There will always be events that all presidents have to face... Republican or democrat.

At the moment it is all about Myanmar, and the progress. Without Presidential approval, these people will not progress. This Presidential visit is all about approving the Myanmar process. It is all about the progression of Myanmar-- of which there has been none at all under China's influence over the last 30 years.


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