After a press conference at her home in Rangoon, President Obama
moves to embraces pro-democracy opposition lawmaker and Nobel
Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, Nov. 19.
Americans Have No
Hope of 'Squeezing China Out of Myanmar' (Global Times, People's Republic of
China)
Is the
goal of President Obama's trip to Burma, called Myanmar by its military junta, to
interfere with its longstanding ties with Beijing? According to this editorial
from China's state-run Global Times,
if it is, there is little chance of success, especially with the tiny amount of
aid to the country Washington is offering.
EDITORIAL
November 19, 2012
People’s Republic of
China – Huanqiu – Original Article (English)
U.S. President Barack Obama paid a six-hour visit to Myanmar
yesterday. Some suggest that his visit was aimed at weakening China's influence
there. Such assumptions about the competing interests of great powers and the
political changes in Myanmar over the past year add special meaning to Obama's
visit.
China's Foreign Ministry has expressed no displeasure over
the visit, commenting that it believes that whatever comes from it, China-Myanmar
relations would deepen. This shouldn't be dismissed as diplo-speak,
but a reflection of China's confidence.
Myanmar's democratic reform and opening up to the West is not
only satisfying to Washington, but is also in China's long-term interests. Most
ASEAN countries hold democratic elections, and differences in political systems
and relations with China have not been hindered. Myanmar will not become
alienated from China simply because of domestic political changes. In fact, Myanmar's
opening-up was unavoidable. China-Myanmar relations will have to adapt to this,
but the changes will be limited.
There is absolutely no chance that bilateral relations will
be entirely undermined. China is Myanmar's biggest neighbor and has a unique
and irreplaceable influence on it. More importantly, such influence is based on
equality.
Myanmar is opening to the West to maximize its national
interests. But it would be unwise for it to replace China with the West. Both Myanmar's
current leadership and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi are fully aware of this.
That said, Obama's visit may have an eye toward challenging
China's influence, but its actual impact will be hard to measure. Obama appreciates
praise for promoting democracy in Myanmar, and in fact, he does merit some
reward. But the United States will find it impossible to squeeze China out of Myanmar.
Posted
by Worldmeets.US
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Southeast Asia doesn't face imminent war. The worst case
scenario predicted for the South China Sea dispute is a low-level military
clash. With countries in the region more concerned with economic growth than
anything else, Washington has undertaken the difficult business of pushing its
military and political influence in the region. For these countries, the chief
concern is which country - the U.S. or China - can bring them the greatest
benefit.
Economically, countries in Southeast Asia are more dependent
on China than the United States, and this trend is only increasing. Obama is
bringing a paltry $170 million in aid to Myanmar. Unless he is able to ensure this
amount of aid every month, this will prove a weak bargaining chip when it comes
to altering China-Myanmar relations.
China must to adjust to increased American diplomatic action
in the region, but it doesn't have to overreact. China's economic growth and
growing domestic market will result in its becoming a stronger economic driving
force in the region. That is China's greatest source of diplomatic leverage in
Southeast Asia.
