%0 Journal Article
%T China¡¯s Strategic Misjudgement on Myanmar
%A Yun SUN
%J Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs
%D 2012
%I German Institute of Global and Area Studies, (GIGA)
%X Yun Sun argues that China¡¯s policy failures on Myanmar in 2011 are rooted in several strategic post-election misjudgements. Following President Thein Sein¡¯s inauguration in March 2011, the Sino¨CMyanmar relationship was initially boosted by the establishment of a ¡°comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership,¡± and China sought reciprocation for its long-time diplomatic support in the form of Myanmar¡¯s endorsement of China¡¯s positions on regional multilateral forums. A series of events since August have frustrated China¡¯s aspirations, however, including Myanmar¡¯s suspension of the Myitsone dam and the rapid improvement of its relationship with the West. Several strategic misjudgements contributed to China¡¯s miscalculations, including on the democratic momentum of the Myanmar government, on the U.S.¨CMyanmar engagement and on China¡¯s political and economic influence in the country. China¡¯s previous definition of Myanmar as one of China¡¯s ¡°few loyal friends¡± and the foundation of its strategic blueprint has been fundamentally shaken, and China is recalibrating its expectations regarding future policies.
%K Political Science
%K PR China
%K Myanmar
%K Myitsone dam
%K 300
%K 320
%K 327
%K PR China
%K Myanmar
%K Myitsone dam
%K 1950-2011
%U http://hup.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/jsaa/article/view/513