Helping Burma more

“democratic”?

Name: E v v i e
ID: 698250031
 China interests in Burma
• Economic benefits
Burma’ ’s off-shore oil and gas deposits in particular have
helped China enhance its overall energy security situation
• Burmese ports, upgraded by Chinese companies, have
given China’ ’ s underdeveloped and landlocked
southwest provinces an outlet to the sea, and hence
access to larger overseas markets.
 U.S. Interests in Burma
• Geopolitical
The U.S. think Burma is so close to China and India, it could easily cut off the land
connection between China and the ASEAN countries and Burma could play a key role in
restraining India’s move towards the South China
Sea and Southeast Asia.
• Military
⑴ Burma could act as one of China’s seaports or naval bases.
⑵ Burma could become a future key stalwart in its encircling chain around China.
• Energy transportation
⑴ Burma has the richest natural resources in Indochina and is especially abundant in
minerals, timber, oil and gas.
⑵ Burma is a very important position in China’s overseas energetic strategy map.
 Conflict between China and U.S.
• China and the U.S. judge the Burma threat differently
China, the Burmese domestic situation is not harmful to regional
or international peace and security
U.S. government, Burma is a time bomb posing a threat to the
region
• U.S. reopening engagement with Burma
China is afraid that U.S. will have a great power to
influence Burma
 U.S. Pressure on Burma
• The Bush Administration took strong action something like
intense political pressures and strict economic sanctions and
tried to push Burma junta change.
• Obama Administration supports sanctions on Burma, but the
sanctions would only be lifted if the regime makes concrete
changes.
• Obama Administration change their policy from isolation to
engagement
In addition to maintaining sanctions, the Administration said it
would engage in a dialogue with the military regime aimed at
a transition to democracy.
 The urgent problem
• Is it really help Burma to develop?

• Is it really help Burma to get into

democracy?
 Reference
• http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35910.htm
• http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS22737.pdf
• http://uscampaignforburma.org/pr/2009-obama-
administration-supports-sanctions-on-burma.html
• http://www.carnegieendowment.org/programs/china/chinese/P
DF/InsightMonthly/november09.pdf