Better to aid Myanmar than blame China

[TaiShang]

Better to aid Myanmar than blame China
Published: 2015-3-7 0:28:02

The New York Times Friday published a commentary by Matthew Smith, the executive director of Fortify Rights, who wrote that Beijing's call for peace in Myanmar and aid to its refugees "is far less altruistic than Beijing cares to admit."

This echoed another article published by the newspaper on January 25, which accused China of exploiting Myanmar's resources. They both interpreted China's cooperation with Myanmar from the most malicious angle.

China and Myanmar have maintained normal diplomatic ties. China is serious about its non-interference with Myanmar's internal affairs. So far, most of the stances the Myanmar government and its opposition hold toward China's Myanmar policies are favorable. The unfriendly and vicious comments mainly came from outside Myanmar, especially political opinion leaders in the US and other Western countries.

Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has made objective and positive comments after inspecting the controversial copper mine invested in by China. However, NGOs with connections to the West have been actively trying to damage the reputation of Chinese investment by listing a series of problems and sins.

Myanmar is facing internal troubles, but its millions of people still need to keep their life going. The cooperation with China is an important means to keep its economy operating normally.

The neighboring countries have all been opening up to Chinese investment on various levels. They know it is unrealistic to close the door to the world's second largest economy.

Ethnic conflicts have existed in Myanmar since the country's independence in the 1940s. It is odd to conclude that doing business with China may worsen the conflicts.

US media and NGOs are strongly opposed to China's economic ties with Myanmar. So why don't the US government and companies do something tangible to help Myanmar reconstruct its economy? The US should not only export the "values of democracy" to Myanmar, but also help the country create jobs, provide loans to help the country build roads and bridges, and help industrialize the country. The US should not just mess up the country and throw it away.

Some extremists in the US tend to politicize everything. We are not sure whether they think the huge trade volumes between the US and China are also evil? Do they believe that the US lending money to China in the form of state bonds is a big mistake?

These so-called US elites are a group who are good at fabrication. They are so bold in naming a deer as a horse, or naming black as white.

They may think it is a time when the US opinion sphere can do whatever in Asia. They are wrong.

 

[Tshering22]

However, NGOs with connections to the West have been actively trying to damage the reputation of Chinese investment by listing a series of problems and sins.

Never trust these snake NGOs.

Myanmar is foolish in trusting these undercover intelligence agents who will ruin their economy.

Look how much trouble we Indians are having with missionary NGOs and their intelligence agency masters.

@Aung Zaya

Friend, China may not be an angel but it is at least not doing the damage these NGOs are doing.

 

[areal]

Everything can be blamed to China from western media, it is not so surprised now.

 

[Keel]

Most if not all of the British media are still using "Burma" iso "Myanmar"
Doesnt it say something on the Brits mindset?

And it has been the west which initiated the sanctions!

Jingdezhen fine porcelain tea and dinner set

 

[Raphael]

Dependency theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

During the Cold War, the US made sure to silence any criticism from "dependency theory", which argued that US trade with third world/NAM countries was exploitative. The US called dependency theory "communist hogwash" and "economically illiterate". International relations scholars and development economists who espoused the theory were blacklisted.

Now they have revived this "Marxist" theory because it has become a convenient tool in attacking China. The sheer cynicism, intellectually dishonesty and hypocrisy makes me skeptical of whether it is possible to have peaceful co-existence with such a sociopathic, collectively mentally ill country.

 

[Aung Zaya]

Never trust these snake NGOs.

Myanmar is foolish in trusting these undercover intelligence agents who will ruin their economy.

Look how much trouble we Indians are having with missionary NGOs and their intelligence agency masters.

@Aung Zaya

Friend, China may not be an angel but it is at least not doing the damage these NGOs are doing.

Most of NGOs in Myanmar are just for show to grab foreign donations by doing unstabilies in the country... Totally suck..!!

 

[Tshering22]

Most of NGOs in Myanmar are just for show to grab foreign donations by doing unstabilies in the country... Totally suck..!!

Exactly why your regime must force them out of the country.

 

[TaiShang]

Dependency theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

During the Cold War, the US made sure to silence any criticism from "dependency theory", which argued that US trade with third world/NAM countries was exploitative. The US called dependency theory "communist hogwash" and "economically illiterate". International relations scholars and development economists who espoused the theory were blacklisted.

Now they have revived this "Marxist" theory because it has become a convenient tool in attacking China. The sheer cynicism, intellectually dishonesty and hypocrisy makes me skeptical of whether it is possible to have peaceful co-existence with such a sociopathic, collectively mentally ill country.

Excellent comparative analysis. I wish I had the power to give a positive rating to this post. @Chinese-Dragon .

I guess the root cause of the problem is the Western (US) NGOs, a tumor that China has to take care of asap at home. This aspect has been well-analyzed by one reader:

"The modus operandi of the NGOs are predictable. Employing those addicted to the American narrative, their members - including the gift of the english gab pinoys and pinays - move into poor countries ostensibly to help the natives develop. Actually if one were to examine their budget, the money of the NGOs is mainly taken up for administrative costs, allowances for its employees to live a high life, to set up anti-China media - such as the Irrawaddy in Myanmar - and to bribe the westernised segment of the population to advance the American agenda, including its "democracy" and the maligning of China. Money for development, there is little. One sees the members of these sordid NGOs in the fashionable parts of Phnom Penh, Vientiane, Yangon, and the capitals of the other developing countries of the world, often living it up, often dining in expensive restaurants while the poor natives gawk and beg on the outside. That is the world of these NGO employees, one of make believe that they are making a difference to world poverty. The more resourceful of them - usually middle aged, obese and morally decrepit men - might even run an a-go-go bar where prostitutes operate for the benefit of their western kind. Some even run pedophile clubs, again for their own sordid kind. To better promote their business, they may enter into business arrangement with the some local mamasan - the whitey will take care of the financial aspects of the business and she will take care of the customers and source the under-aged prostitutes.

I like to recommend to the journalists of China to investigate this farce and crime of the western NGOs. Look upon this mission as one to make the world better understand the nefarious cloak which NGOs provide for these morally decrepit men to operate. All the investigatory journalists need to do is to go to neighbouring Vientiane, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Yangon, etc, and expose some of underground happenings. And this exposure will effectively deflate the NGOs and their claim to preach from a moral high horse."

 

[NiceGuy]

Never trust these snake NGOs.

Myanmar is foolish in trusting these undercover intelligence agents who will ruin their economy.

Look how much trouble we Indians are having with missionary NGOs and their intelligence agency masters.

@Aung Zaya

Friend, China may not be an angel but it is at least not doing the damage these NGOs are doing.

Chairman Mao had a plan to flood the whole ASEAN region with Chinese peasants, thats why every ASEAN including Myanmar r aware of China actions in ASEAN nations.

Myanmar is doing the right thing to purge Chinese ethnic out of its country so they can avoid an evil that may put their country in chaos like Chinese Khmer Pol Pot in Cambodia

 

[Tshering22]

Chairman Mao had a plan to flood the whole ASEAN region with Chinese peasants, thats why every ASEAN including Myanmar r aware of China actions in ASEAN nations.

Myanmar is doing the right thing to purge Chinese ethnic out of its country so they can avoid an evil that may put their country in chaos like Chinese Khmer Pol Pot in Cambodia

I agree. But what I said was that West in no angel. Their tendencies to do damage is equally worse.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Op-Ed on Chinese site

Better to aid Myanmar than blame China - Global Times

 

[TaiShang]

China and Myanmar: When neighbours become good friends
6 March 2015
Author: Dai Yonghong, Sichuan University

China wants to keep its good relationship with Myanmar. But, because the major powers are also taking interest, China must work to make a strong relationship even stronger.

Myanmar is China’s security barrier and strategic buffer. China’s top security concern is to keep Myanmar from joining the US ‘encirclement of China’ policy. Myanmar’s strategic geographical location means it is an ideal place from which to pose a threat to China. The United States and Japan seem to be planning to use Myanmar as a wedge between China and India in order to provoke a struggle for profit between the two countries. The United States has also stepped up its efforts to build a ‘c-shaped ring of encirclement’ around China. China needs to maintain good and sustainable bilateral relations with Myanmar to prevent this.

China has shown interest in using Myanmar as a future springboard to the Indian Ocean. Strong bilateral relations will ensure a smooth passage. This is critical for the successful implementation of the Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor initiative. As former policy analyst for US Defence Wayne Bert said, ‘China, through economic and military expansion, is establishing a position that strengthens it vis-à-vis both India and Southeast Asia, and improves its access to the Indian Ocean channel’.

Myanmar is of one China’s major allies in the international arena. China and Myanmar adopted different development patterns from those generally recognised by the West. Myanmar and China support each other on issues such as human rights, freedom and democracy, which some Western countries use as an excuse to criticise both countries.

Maintaining good relations is also necessary for border stability as there are many ethnic minorities living on both sides of the China–Myanmar border. After the Kokang Incident in 2009, tens of thousands of Myanmar refugees fled into China and shelling spilled over into Chinese territory. This incident not only caused loss of life and property damage, but also endangered the security and stability of China’s south-western frontier.

The high levels of cross-border crime (such as drug trafficking) have a serious negative impact on social stability and economic development in China’s south-western region. China can only eliminate this social cancer if both countries’ central and local governments cooperate with each other.

Myanmar is also a key determiner of prosperity along China’s south-western frontier. Myanmar is an important channel for energy. As political analyst Christopher O’Hara points out, ‘China wants what Myanmar has — Indian Ocean access and abundant natural resources to support its rise’. About 80 per cent of China’s oil imports come through the Malacca Strait near Indonesia. China is strategically choosing to build a direct channel from south-western China to the Indian Ocean to safeguard its energy security. In June 2013, the Sino–Myanmar oil and gas pipeline was successfully completed; gas started to flow to China in October 2013.

China, the US, India, Japan and the EU are all significant players in the ‘Myanmar game’. Undoubtedly, the major powers desire to strengthen their own strategic positions in Myanmar. And Myanmar intends to take advantage of the interest from the US, India, Japan and the EU to balance China’s influence, while taking care not to jeopardise its own relations with China.

China is concerned that other powers’ will interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs. The major powers are challenging China’s position as the preeminent external power in Myanmar. India wants to ensure the safety of the so-called ‘East Gate’ in order to prevent any threat to India from China via Myanmar. India views China’s energy trade route with Myanmar as entering its own backyard.

The US is also worried that China’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean will harm its interests. The US and Japan are concerned about China’s intentions regarding the BCIM Economic Corridor. They fear increasing regional economic integration with China at the centre.

Myanmar’s hedging strategy with regard to international relations further complicates its bilateral relations.

While China faces challenges, it can also exploit opportunities. The other major powers are not unified in their strategies as they lack mutual trust. The India–Myanmar relationship is not a serious threat to China. Myanmar’s goal in developing relations with India is to balance the power of China in Myanmar, but India has been too slow to develop the relationship. It is unlikely that Myanmar will promote bilateral or multilateral relations with India at the expense of China.

The China–Myanmar relationship will continue to evolve as time goes on, but one thing will stay the same: the strong relationship will not radically deteriorate.

Dai Yonghong is Professor at the Institute of South Asia Studies, Director of the Center for Myanmar Studies, Sichuan University, China and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Insititue of Security and Development Policy, Sweden.

 

[NiceGuy]

I agree. But what I said was that West in no angel. Their tendencies to do damage is equally worse.

As an ASEAN member, Myanmar can ask for help from other ASEAN nations, but they havent asked for help yet, so I think the situation there is still under control.

 

[Place Of Space]

As an ASEAN member, Myanmar can ask for help from other ASEAN nations, but they havent asked for help yet, so I think the situation there is still under control.

No, prefers to asking help from Vietnam directly.

Chairman Mao had a plan to flood the whole ASEAN region with Chinese peasants, thats why every ASEAN including Myanmar r aware of China actions in ASEAN nations.

Myanmar is doing the right thing to purge Chinese ethnic out of its country so they can avoid an evil that may put their country in chaos like Chinese Khmer Pol Pot in Cambodia

Ho Chi Minh is also Chinese.

 

[NiceGuy]

Ho Chi Minh is also Chinese.

Nope, he doesnt like Chinese