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



The Air Force One has landed. The Burmese are going nuts. Catch the Obama fever, although four years late. In the end, it's just an photo-op whirlwind visit. What can Burmese get from US that they can't from China? If they are expecting Uncle Sam to throw money at them, they would be bitterly disappointed. Myanmar is negligible in US global strategy. I hope they don't play their cards wrong.

wudang wushu in reply to TarH33l

You are 100% correct to say that the US is financially incapable of giving monies to Myanmar

In any case, if Myanmar expect "Sugar Daddy" America to give monies---- Myanmar need to queue up in a long line of a queue of many other "beggar" nations all seeking alms from Uncle Sam

Myanmar will probably be at the end back of the long queue--- it is after all--- the "Johnny comes lately"

HELLOOOOO... America had already borrowed heavily to finance the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, which had caused USD 3 trillion

Will Uncle Sam borrow $$$$ from China to give presents to Myanmar

Is this some crazy joke--or what?????

Myestry in reply to wudang wushu

I bet u are Chinese.I made this assumption just after reading ur comment before seeing ur name.

And what can Burmese get that they can get from China?

Who are u kidding?I am a Burmese and i know What i want and what i don't.
To answer your question i want freedom.Yes freedom!"I am not sure if u guys have ever heard of that in china.And i don't blame you becoz it mean nothing to u.So let me tell you what i don't want,
It was so sad that the previous Regime kept very good tie china for many decades and mastered all the shitty stuffs from ur government.And what Chinese did was keep supporting and reinforcing their bad behaviors while sucking as much natural resources as possible by bribing those stupid generals.Other than the natural resources,Chinese were targeting the Burmese territories and water supply by bribing those stupid in return of some pocket change and some shitty weapons(to kill the civilians)Even some of those generals realized lately about where they are going with that and understood the importance of having good ties with other countries.That's i don't want from china. But we can still be good neighbors and keep trading.

P.S, please control your population to avoid the territorial dispute to meet the territorial and energy demand for the exploding population.
And be nice to ASEAN countries without them you won't be able to get cheap resources as Africa doesn't have as abundant resources as we do in ASEAN.

wudang wushu in reply to Myestry

(1) We do hope that Myanmar will get lots of $$$$$ aid from the USA. We are happy that the Myanmaress people are re-joining the world community. We wish Myanmar the best

HOWEVER --- we are also just stating the obvious--- that America just do not any any monies or spare cash left to give generous aid to Myanmar or Anybody

(2) PLEASE watch your language here --- China pays cash to buy whatever commodities from Myanmar and buy at Market-prices. We do not think Myanmar need to give away any commodities to China for free

TRADE is a 2-way street. Whenever Myanmar feels China is not offering a good price for its commodities--- it can also say "No---we wont sell at this price"

IF You do not like to continue the relationship with China--- you can always break it off --- that's your birthright. AND , no---- I dont think any Chinese person will loose any sleep over that

Good luck and all the best

Myestry in reply to wudang wushu

Thank you very much for wishing the best for our country.
Well, what is obvious to you might not be obvious for everyone.

I am very much aware of the fact that America is not giving any free money to our country(neither does china), Everyone has their own interest.
However,it is up for that country to decide what kind of diplomacy they are going to use.For example,
If they want to think short-term by making as much as possible out of their weakness? or
they want be keep bilateral relationship that will benefits for the both country? It's really up to them.
Because we won't be weak and poor forever,we were not always.Actually past 50 years were the worst time in our history.

What kind of market price are you talking about?Most of the stuffs being exported to china were banned for the ordinary ppl export.
And i do not call it bilateral trade or contracts when you are making with very few corrupted people in the top without the awareness of the general public.
They don't own Myanmar that they give a signature on the paper and the ownership is transferred.
They were only in the power because they killed or imprisoned all the civilians who opposed them.

Well as a Chinese I'm not sure if u are aware of the South East part of the Asia,but i am telling you that it will become a sovereign state like EU very soon because of the Chinese aggressive economic and foreign policies making us unit which i think is a good thing by the way.
Then i won't be sure if Chinese person will have the same comfort in their sleep because china possibly may become non export reliance one day, but it will never become non-import reliance economy.

BHARAT P in reply to wudang wushu

Freedom brings about a larger amount of transparency, that suppression does not. Freedom also brings about a better system of justice that china will only experience when it gets democracy.
For example, did you know that hi jintao's family owns assets worth about one one billion through a series of secret companies?
How couLd you ever know? That type of news is always suppressed.
In terms of money, America has all the money that the world has. They all put it into America ... Because it is the safest and only investment they can make. Even China has put so much money there because it had to keep it"s currency down.
So, in effect, in monetary terms, China has a long way to go before it can match America

MostJustWantPeace in reply to Myestry

"please control your population to avoid the territorial dispute"

I see that you are also ignorant - ever heard of something called the One-Child Policy? Maybe we should have the One-Child Policy in Burma as well, so that Bamars are not always fighting with the ethnic minorities.

MostJustWantPeace in reply to Myestry


ASEAN has a LONG WAY to go before it becomes something like the EU. The Cambodians and the Laotians still worry about Vietnamese dominance. That is why China has so much heft in Cambodia, and why the recent ASEAN conference in Phnom Penh ended without discussions about the South China Sea issue, which was blocked by the host.

BHARAT.P. in reply to MostJustWantPeace

Now c'mon mostjustwant

We can see that wudang is angry and his comments show it.They also indicate jealousy.
I don't need to be jealous. India has not lost anything in the process, it has only gained.
Whereas China seems to have lost this most important Dam in the north.
China has come in with some very high expectations for itself . They came in thinking that money was the most important commodity for the Myanmarese, and money would override every other aspect of their lives.
That is very selfish. They never thought about the possibility of some unhappy locals. And that attitude comes from their own conduct in China itself.

MostJustWantPeace in reply to BHARAT.P.

No, India has not lost anything, but it has also gained nothing and still has less of an economic footprint in Burma compared to the Chinese. Hence why I thought you might be jealous. But since you don't seem to mind that, then good for you.

So typical of that Indian dude "bharat" to put words into my words by saying that I am angry and jealous

It's just their dirty devious way of winning any arguement

NO wonder India needs an Italian Lady to put them in their place

They will kow-tow to any White skin


I realize that many of your readers are more knowledgeable about economics than I, but I have followed Myanmar news for many years.I see this sea change in American attitude as a result of the Chinese "invasion" of Myanmar. Basically China has skilled eager businessmen who are proximate, saw a resource, and happily took advantage with Myanmar partners.America saw that its resource rich nemesis was being plundered and wanted to get a piece of the action.The activist lady was and is just a pawn or foil to start this reversal.Heck, it was only a year or so ago the mainstream media on American television referred to Myanmar as Burma consistently.Amazingly transparently morally bereft cupidity on behalf of the USA.And this is a great lesson for all of us as to who our masters are and what they are like.For better or worse, a valuable bit of knowledge and a good article. Kudos to the Economist.



guest-innawmn in reply to wolfgang21

Well in order to become a Harvard dropout, he had to actually get into Harvard.

Unfortunately for him he despises hard work and expects government to provide everything for him. When the Canadian government's social welfare is unable to fully pay for his retirement, as is happening today, he goes on the Internet to try to trash others and blame others for his problem.


The Economist is an impartial press,it sounds to me like joke and irony.NO country can dominate forever,history will move on and kick off the obstacles.China has an old saying 'Born in misery and died of happiness'.Chinese will someday be thankful for the hedging against China.With a severer external environment,China will get more impetus in the internal reform in politics and economy just like the improvement in the national defense.Let's look at the result of the crisis caused by America in the Taiwan Strait in 1990s.It was followed by a lasting speeding up of the military modernization of China.No one wants to be a scapegoat in the contest between the rising of China and the arrest carried out by America.Most countries in the contest just want to win more benefit from both sides.Considering the diplomatic policy of China,America has to extract a portion of money to afford most of the rewards for other countries when the inside of America is
rife with monetary problems.We hope America can see clearly the better side of rising of China.Cooperation often creates new cakes while confrontation always means destruction.China needs a peaceful global environment and surely will do as many as they can to ensure a stable international stability which can share a lot of pressure of America.Maybe America can treat China through collaboration and then China will surely become more willing to let America to tap interest in the construction of China.

tocharian in reply to youpengxiaokeng

I don't know what you're talking about youpong but I prefer Lady Gaga (I was born this way!) to that PLA Lady "Peony Fairy" Peng Liyuan (she now has lots of Yuan, I guess).
I'd rather be born free and be poor in America, or Burma for that matter, than die in misery under fascist Chinese military rule. (Maybe that's an old Burmese saying LOL)

wudang wushu in reply to tocharian

Sorry to sound rude,,

BUT no Chinese would give a rat's ars* whether you prefer to die in America or to die in China

Chinese people will worry that you will pollute the environment --- please, it's better if you prefer to live and die in America

tocharian in reply to wudang wushu

Well I know a lot of Chinese (I have to deal with them everyday, where I live) and not just Mingze Xi and Guagua Bo, who prefer to live (at least before they die) in America or Canada). What about all those "naked" functionaries of the CPC and what about you, wumaodang wushu?

guest-innawws in reply to tocharian

Well I guess you forgot that the Bamar government today is also a fascist military government.

Will Myanmar turn into a true democracy and offer equal rights to the ethnic minorities? I don't know but for some reason I doubt it, because we all know how truly racist deep down most Bamar are.

Peter Robertson

Myanmar and America are a good match. One is a country ruled by Fascists responsible for a lot of crimes against humanity like ethnic cleansing, while trading in narcotics and looting the country. The other is a "Democracy of bombs and missiles" fast becoming Fascist. As most people would note, wherever the US goes, goes death and destruction. I suppose with all the evil and ethnic cleansing going on in Myanmar, the Grim Reaper in the form of Obama is paying a 'visit'. Bye bye Myanmar.


Can't understand this storm in a teacup. The matter is simple. The usa is wary of china and it's recent show of aggression. It has started changing the surrounds of china, and made them less friendly for china. The power mechanism in the world has changed, and America is much less subservient to oil, and so it will now show it's muscle where it is necessary. This then applies to any country that shows signs of democracy .. Which usually leads on to some amount of transparency and liberalism.

Alex DeLarge in reply to BHARAT P

I agree with your analysis. Further to your comment about oil, it is now China and SEAsia which have the most to lose if the Persian Gulf is closed to oil exports going East, for example by an Iran-Israel war.

A corollary is that the US no-longer needs Israel as a strategic partner, since the Middle East's importance as a source of oil is nullified. The large Jewish population in the US will mean that Israel continues to have emotional importance to the US, but Israel's strategic importance diminishes and this will result in a re-aligment of US policy towards her erstwhile ally.

On the other hand, the Middle East is of extreme importance to China: 85% of China's oil comes through the Persian Gulf and Malacca Straits.

So a conspiracy theorist could come up with a scenario in which hostility between China and US and/or US allies in the South China Sea resulted in a closure of the Persian Gulf not despite the US's best efforts, but because of them.

Think about it.

If you think fracking in the US is going to cover for ME oil imports, then you have thoroughly overestimated the amount of reserves available. Of course, we are not even talking about environmental damage and adverse geological results.

Also, shouldn't we be moving away from oil? Or is going green no longer a priority for the US?

Terence Hale

This may be “putting the cat among the pigeons” and contribute to unrest.

Alex DeLarge in reply to Terence Hale

Possibly. But you could say the same about the entire US 'pivot' to SEAsia.

The alternative to the pivot was to continue the status quo ante and neglect SEAsia while China muscles in on the region, announcing claims like the 'nine-dash line' and operating a divide-and-rule policy in ASEAN.

Given the stakes, Obama's pivot is a bold initiative. In effect, he has called China's bluff. Now the ball is in China's court.

Will China put troops onto Senkaku? If they do, will the US honor it's treaty obligation to defend Japanese soil?

What will China do about the astonishing about-turn in Burma? When the Lady is elected President in 2016, will she be able to resist the temptation to bring US 'miltary advisors' into Burma?

What about Thailand? Thailand is a front-line state, traditionally neutral: remember that the Japanese planned the invasion of Burma from their headquarters in Chiang Mai.

If rivalry between China and the US turns to hostility, the US must ensure Thailand does not allow it's adversary free passage across Thai soil (again).

Thailand is crucial because it is the lynchpin to both Burma and Malaysia. Anyone who has read a history of WW2 will know that if Malaysia falls, SEAsia is as good as lost.


The funny thing with our Chinese posters, is when the US makes a gestures, they starting thinking of US - China. When dealing with the West, its always a bit more complicated. If you consider Japan puppet of the US, as most of our patriotic Chinese posters do, then you will have to look at the surge in Japanese investment and aid in the last 18 months to Myanmar. Japanese loans/investment don't go pouring into a country without the nod of the Americans.

Myanmar has shown that you can't prosper as long as the West maintain the sanctions. The Chinese have aid/investment (along with the Asian munchkins like Taiwan/South Korea/Singapore) were just not enough. I don't think the Junta were that scared of becoming too dependent on China, but let's be frank, without Western aid/markets, Myanmar would merely be surviving as it is no.

Let's be blunt, Burma is a basket case, not necessarily because of the West, but because of the almost half a century of isolation not just from the West, but from the likes of China also. Its strange that few of our Chinese posters know the sheer idiocy of the Burmese.

Alex DeLarge in reply to Bismarck888

You have obviously never been to Burma. They speak better English than the Thais and inhabit a beautiful country brimming with natural resources.

Now that Aung San Suu Kyi is about to be elected President and the West is pouring in billions in aid (and soon military personnel), Burma will assume its rightful place on the world stage.

Burma has joined the many SEAsian nations which are encircling and containing China. No-one yet knows the exact reason for this about-turn in the generals' stance, but the generals must have concluded that China's close embrace was coming at a greater cost than they were willing to pay.

wolfgang21 in reply to Alex DeLarge

That is your wishful thinking which never come true. At least Suu Kyi is unlikely be the next president. Second, she dare not to provote/encircle China, a money giver (Stupid, What is good for her and her country to do so anyway.). Third, she is old and may not be able to tackle all political business in the future. :D

wudang wushu in reply to Alex DeLarge

ARE YOU DREAMING ??? when you said the "West will be pouring in billions in aid" ??

Stop dreaming --- the West do not have any available monies to donate to Burma

FACE THE TRUTH--- Europe is trying to use all its reserves of $$$$ to save itself first

Do you expect the USA to borrow more money from China in order to give to Burma ? NO WAY HOSAY...

OH PLEASE --- Its good that Burma is joining the world community again --- after being effectively "Isolated and contained" by the USA and the West

We wish Burma all the best

AND you claim ASEAN is encircling China--- we are not aware that Cambodia, Laos and Thailand are planning to militarily encircle China ??? you are dreaming again..

Maybe, Vietnam may want to fight with China BUT we do not think the Phillipines would want to...

You are still hallucinating...

Alex DeLarge in reply to wudang wushu

In 2012 alone the EU has given €17.5 million, and that is in addition to the €150 million given since 2008:

So the EU may be poor, but not so poor that they cannot help feed innocent children.

PS note that "no way hose" should be "no way Jose". Jose is a Spanish name. Hose is something you water your plants with. You could convey that news to your English teacher in Beijing.

Bismarck888 in reply to Alex DeLarge

Of course they speak better English, because they were a British colony. The West does not give a lot of aid. Anyways what is critical for Myanmar is Western markets.

it was the Chinese who were instrumental in pushing for greater Burmese reform in the beginning. China needs an open and prosperous Burma for its own interest.

Bismarck888 in reply to wudang wushu

Mr Wudang Wushu,

The sanctions imposed on Myanmar lasted about 12 years. Burma has only been trading with the outside world for the last 20 years (including China). Before that Burma was hostile to everyone including your beloved China. They hunted down the Burmese Communist which your CPC supported. Burmar are a very nationalist bunch, to isolate yourself totally from both the West and the Eastern bloc for 30 years takes talent and a paranoia. Even during the Cold War, China always maintained relations with the Eastern bloc.

Why is China interested in getting the West to invest, because they want to protect their investments in Burma. More linked the Burmese elite are with the outside world, the less likely they are one day to wake up and seize Chinese assets. The main rason why Chinese don't invest in the DPRK is fear of the North Koreans seizing Chinese assets. The North Koreans have a nasty habit of signing contracts with Chinese companies. Chinese companies come in invest develop a mine/factory, bring in people to supervise. 6 months down the road, after the factory is operating, they kick out the Chinese at gunpoint and seize all the assets. With friends like this, you must be proud.


Ethnic minorities and tribal groups have always been Burma's headache. British did not attempt to integrate them in the colonial years, for it would be far more convenient to rule a nation divided, so was the attitude of military junta in the past half a century. Even Suu Kyi hinted it could not be easy to calm the inter-ethnic violence that flared up most recently.

Doubtlessly, it would be wise for US president to invite the minority groups for discussion during his visit. However, it is equally wise not to deter the wish of Burmese president at this early stage of tender bilateral relationship. (btt1943, vzc1943)

Alex DeLarge in reply to boontee

Some of Burma's tribal groups fought WITH the British against Japan, eg. the famous Kachin Levy and the Karen Rifles. The Kachin in particular are respected in the British military for the skill and enthusiasm with which they dispatched Tojo's boys using their long and viciously curved blades.

When the british left, the Kachin saw little difference between the Japanese and the generals, and so continued their blade work with gusto on the junta.

For that reason, I expect The Lady, when in power, to make every attempt to win these redoubtable warriors to her cause: after all, no-one wants to be de-bagged by a 9-inch steel blade.

No - not necessarily brave, just lucky - she didn't die before attaining fame and Nobel Peace Prize. Now, these act as a shield for her - if the junta kills her, they sustain far more damage and become much more isolated than if they keep her alive and a lame duck whose job is to make Burma look good and kosher to western sensibilities.

wudang wushu


Truth is--- US-CHINA are just too interdependent...

(1) Pres OBAMA visits Mynamar, Cambodia and Thailand, instead of Japan, Vietnam and Phillipines out of defference to China---in order not to provoke China

This is as obvious as daylight

(2) Japan wants the USA to show strong support in the DIAYU/Senksku dispute---and needs Pres OBAMA to visit Japan to show China that the US is solidly behind Japan

BUT... Pres OBAMA is not visiting Japan

(3) Similarly for Vietnam and the Phillipines --- these 2 needs a visit by OBAMA to prove to China that they are protected by the USA


DID THE USA /OBAMA DISPLAYED STRONG ANTI-CHINA POSTURE, before the US Presidential elections just to counter Gov. ROMNEY's accusations that Pres OBAMA was too weak towards CHINA ??

These visits to Asian countries , other than Japan, Vietnam and Philippines seem to suggest --- that Pres OBAMA do not need to show ROMNEY that he is weak on CHINA --- now that the Elections are over

The TRUTH is that the USA needs to work and co-operate with China in the field of the economy

HELLOOOOO-- the USA needs to rebuild its shattered economy -- this is the first priority--- Senkaku, Paracels be damned--- Americans need jobs, medicare, prosperity ---- let the Japs, Viet-Gooks, and Filipina houseboys do their own dirty work -- the USA is in too much S**t to help anybody else but itself

WATCH out for the upcoming high-level meeting between Pres OBAMA and PM WEN at the sidelines of the East-ASian Summit, in Cambodia

A good game of GEO-POLITICS ....anyone ??? It's for the "Big-Boys", 3rd rate world powers have to play 2nd fiddle



wudang wushu in reply to wudang wushu



The USA/ Pres OBAMA , shows its sensitivity towards China by NOT visiting Japan, Vietnam and Phillipines, which are anti-China countries --- seeking confrontation with China

INSTEAD, -- OBAMA visits countries to make sure that visiting these countries would not create friction with China

WE can say that PRES OBAMA is showing respect for China's feelings and that PRES OBAMA is playing prudent, friendly diplomacy towards China

THIS IS VERY LONG-TERM Strategic thinking....


The peeking panda bear is of course the most important part of that illustration.

Naughty Bits

If the United States is a "friend" of your nation, then you know you are a weak nation.

Back in WWII, the Soviet Union and the United States were on the same side, as "allies" fighting together but as soon as the war was over, why all the sudden change in relationship? Because the Soviet Union now could challenge the US.

The same thing applies to China. China used to be on the winning side of both World Wars, yet why doesn't the US take China seriously? Because just like the Soviet Union, China actually has a chance to rival the US. That's why the US and China aren't "friends". (Of course the situation is more complex since China was back-stabbed after both wars)

If India was strong, the US would have gone cold with India just like it did with both the former Soviet Union and China.
But because India is still a chaotic mess of a country, it doesn't challenge the United States, the US is happy to say feelgood words to court it.

But being a "friend" of the US isn't all it's cracked up to be. Pakistan is one of the US' oldest allies (goes back to cold war battle for Afghanistan) yet look at how the US has completely ruined the country and abused its sovereignty (illegal killings using drones, withholding military aid to Pakistan as hostage, etc). Despite being a US ally, I bet more US flags are burned in Pakistan than anywhere else in the world. There isn't a day that there isn't protest on the streets against the US.

Myanmar is going to hear good words from the United States, but don't think that being a "friend" means more than just words. If you don't do what the US wants, they wouldn't be afraid to throw you under the bus (i.e. Mubarak's Egypt).

wolfgang21 in reply to Naughty Bits



Correct indeed...

Vanbrugh in reply to Naughty Bits

I am always irked by historical comparisons or facts that are wrong, so I'll just focus on that point. The US-China and USA-USSR rivalries are incomparable, and at no point did the USA "turn" on the USSR.

The Cold War began in 1917 - not 1945. The USA and the Western democracies were never friends with the USSR, whether it was weak or strong, whether there was a chance it would "rival" the USA or not. Look back to 1917-1919 when French, British, American and Japanese soldiers intervened in the Russian Civil war to provide limited aid to the White Russians. The Bolsheviks declared the capitalist powers the class enemy from day 1 and initially sought to spread the revolution by any means necessary and the capitalists responded to this threat in kind.

It was only the war with Hitler, who went to war with both sides, that forced them into a temporary alliance which neither side thought would last.

I could compare the massive differences in economic, military, political and threat-perception of USA-USSR and US-China rivalry today but I'm not going to write an essay here. There is no Cold War today, there is extensive economic contact and cooperation and relations between China and the US are actually pretty good. Both sides can build on this and strengthen ties to diffuse any future tensions.

There is indeed rivalry between the US and China today, but in sum to suggest that the fairly friendly China-USA rivalry today is at all similar in origin and course to the US-USSR struggle is ridiculous.


My guess is people at are either Chinese or ex-patriate Chinese paid off by the CCP to criticize this (note Showcat). Here in Canada we are already learning how Nortel was spied by Huawei and the Chinese government. They want to take over Nexen and while I don't like the Americans that much, prefer them much more than the brutal dictatorship in Beijing. Unfortunately, our current government of PM Harper seems wanting to sell off the country to China CCP. NEVER TRUST the CHINESE ESPECIALLY UNDER CCP. I think the Burmese have learned that and the Africans are learning that. They bring their uneducated Chinese workers and never provide jobs in their development. I only wish my native country of Sri Lanka under the thuggish Rajapakse brothers realize that and align with India/USA rather than be dependent on CCP ruled China! Another thing is to get friendly with Taiwan which is much more technology superior and a democracy!

Alex DeLarge in reply to jude22

Now that Burma has been ruled out as one of China's 'String of Pearls' on the Indian Ocean, there only remains Hambantota in Sri Lanka.

I wonder what will happen there? I doubt that India or their US allies will allow China to station warships at Hambantota.

More likely the Rajapaksas will be removed and a more-US-friendly regime installed, which would be a good thing.

I see you have no qualms with the CIA or RAW instigating a coup against a democratically elected leader - but I'm not surprised at all, considering how smoothly Operation Ajax went in 1953 that deposed Mossadeq in Iran, and how little remorse is shown about this by the US to this day.

MostJustWantPeace in reply to jude22

"never provide jobs in their development.'

I suggest you read research by reputable academics such as Deborah Brautigam and Dick van Dijk - the Chinese do provide jobs, and as a matter of fact, in most countries the Chinese do work in, the majority of the jobs go to the locals. Of course, it also depends on how many qualified locals there are available.

By the way, the most recent PEW surveys in African countries shows that almost all of them have a more positive perception of China than the US.


Do you know why Sri Lanka gets close with China? The same reason as those of Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan - to counterbalance Indian influence. And since the US is making itself out to be the good ol' friend of India, they will view the US in the same light.


I'm of Chinese extraction, but I'm not being paid anything to post this (as a matter of fact, I'm wasting precious time doing this at 4 am when I should be working on my thesis paper). I just have a more neutral political opinion, and I don't believe everything the western mainstream media tells me. Instead, I do my own research and come to my own conclusions.


TE wrote: "And so the Obama visit is likely only to deepen the Chinese feeling of creeping encirclement. Chinese experts also point to last month’s extraordinary announcement that next year the Burmese army will, as observers, probably attend America’s annual regional military exercises with its friends, known as Cobra Gold. This year’s event, in Thailand, included contingents from South Korea, Indonesia, Japan and Singapore. If the Burmese join this lot, then expect the more conspiratorial readings of the “pivot” to get a really good airing in the Chinese capital."

Only a China-basher could write this. By engaging with a bunch of criminals who are guilty of ethnic cleansing against Muslims in the Rakhine state, what Obama would achieve is to demonstrate the unmitigated hypocrisy of the American Empire once again to the rest of the world.

China is not Soviet Union. According to the recent OECD report, China will surpass the U.S. in 2016 to become the world's largest economy. The "pivot to Asia" and "containment" of China will only bankrupt the Amerikan Empire eventually. I am sure most Western commentators know this in the bottom of their heart. They just do not dare to tell the truth. While the financial criminals who manage the military-industry complex laughing all the way to the bank, the Chinese leaders probably are rolling on floor laughing out loud for the U.S. to implement such foolish self destructive policies.

Alex DeLarge in reply to ShowCat


Or from the heart of their bottom..

Joe Marlowe

Agree with silent night.

China and America has a very complex relationship, with things going on at many different levels. While they are rivals, at the same time their ability to co-operation constructively with each other holds out great promise for the world.

Burma sits between two geopolitical giants, and balancing its relationships with India and China cannot be an easy task.

Burma stands to gain a great deal by being China's trade outlet on the Indian Ocean. Burma also stands to gain a great deal by providing a transit corridor between China and India, and in being an energy supplier to either or both of them. Laws, borders, and politics, that try to defy geographic factors and the laws of economics eventually loose out. Thus Burma will inevitably have substantial economic relationship with China, and substantial economic relationships with India. There is no reason why those relationships should not also be harmonious.

Burma needs to be close to both of them, without being too close to either of them.

The efforts of the United States to bolster Burmese independence, and to bolster Burma's ties to other states in Indo-China, are probably good for everybody, China and India included.

silent night

The Illustration looks like China panda is jealous because US is falling in love with Myanmar. A very funny picture.

There is a very complicated relationship between China and US. It is not only a relationship of a creditor and a debtor, but also very important trading partners for each other, free trade supporters etc. In many cases, China and US have common interests.In fact, to a degree, American troops and military bases around the world are protecting China's interests directly or indirectly except in east Asia. So China is willing to see the US spending more in military. For example China cares little about new U.S. naval base in Australia which there are many grisly headlines about. On the contrary, Indonesia worries about that base more seriously.US warships also won’t bombard China's oil pipelines and oil tankers according to its own interests. If there are some countries worry about more US’s bases in Indian Ocean,it will be India, not China, Pakistan or Myanmar.

From a certain angle,US is a very good street cleaner in Southeast Asia, especially in Myanmar. After US cleans the room “Myanmar”, China also will follows and sometimes also will give some supports behind according to our own interests.

The armed conflicts between Myanmar government and ethnic minorities have seriously brought a lot of troubles to its neighbors. All the refugees including Shan, Kachins, or Karens should go back to their hometowns and have a peaceful life. From China's perspective, Myanmar needs a real ceasefire and a national reconciliation. In this case or many other cases, China will choose the “default” or has a blind eye to US’s actions in Myanmar. Myanmar government need understand that Shan, Kachins, or Karens etc. aren’t the Rohingya.They aren’t illegal immigrants. It is unacceptable if Myanmar government deals with the Kachins ,Shan etc. as same as the the Rohingya. We am sympathetic to their fate! That China remains neutral only wants to avoid offending any sides of the conflicts.

No ceasefire, no reconciliation nationwide,no future for Myanmar.Thein Sein's economic planning will be only a waste paper.

Ebdebebbede in reply to silent night


OK, we get it, you're Chinese. But *India* having conflicts with the US? Since when? You know they've been having joint military exercises for the better part of ten years now?

If anything, India will be quietly happy to let America do all the work in the region.


History told the world that wherever US is involved, there is a high potential of war. It is the last thing that Burmese people need.

Ebdebebbede in reply to calarub

That may change. As you know, our Republican warmongers have been having a tough time getting their hands back on the levers of power.

Believe me, all the sane people in this country are doing what we can to keep them buried.

wolfgang21 in reply to Sandaman

USA had constantly wars since they found.

USA fought the most wars around the world before/after WW2, they even set a A-bomb in Japan. :D

You are so forgetful, must be Alzheimer end phase.


kommonsensesin reply to tocharian 2 mins ago

tocharian says : 'Sinicization of the periphery is proceeding at an alarming pace. Nepal, Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Burma, ... all becoming part of Nan Zhang (Southern Tibet)?'
prc may not want it, but there's nothing wrong there if that's what the people want there. even porto ricans now want to be american and be the 51st state of the us.

if the people of 'Nepal, Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Burma, ... all becoming part of Nan Zhang (Southern Tibet)' want to be a part of china and be chinese, as you implied, why not?

at least their per capita GDP will see a dramatic rise for the better. isn't that's what lives are all about?

even you fled burma to canada for a better per capita GDP, didn't you?

tocharian in reply to kommonsenses

I agree.
That's why Guagua Bo and his step-brother are not going back to China. I'm not sure about Mingze, but Jinping's sister (An'an Xi a.k.a. Qiaoqiao Qi) and his first wife (not the "cute" singer) also prefer to live in the West, no? There is nothing wrong with that if that's what Jinping Xi and Xilai Bo (not to mention his second wife Kailai BoGu) want. I'm fine with them liking the Americans, the Brits, the Germans, Singaporean banks etc. In fact, most people, even if they are not as rich like these Chinese "emperors and princelings" still prefer the Western way-of-life (with all its flaws) to living in a "harmonious" ant-like society of Hukuo-Proletariat controlled by ideological pheromones imprinted on their brains by some CCPCCC (Communo-Capitalistic Party with Corrupt Chinese Characteristics)! Hypocrisy and Orwellian Double-Speak are despicable "characteristics" IMO

kommonsenses in reply to tocharian

it's very unbecoming of you, a 60 something refugee from burma, to nose around the behinds of children of some chinese politicians.

if they like say america, let them all come with their fortunes and stay put there forever. I don't see anything wrong doing that. even poor guys like you could come, why can't they?

guest-innjjla in reply to tocharian

But committing genocide against the Rohingya, Karen, and Kachin are not despicable at all.

Most of Asia already hate the Bamar for being extraordinarily racist, violent, genocidal, and generally despicable (just ask your neighbors). Soon the West will too as the "opened up" Burma gets more and more attention for their crimes.

Don't worry, you might even live long enough to see this happen.



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