Currently facing corruption-related charges, former State Counselor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, has seen her influence over foreign affairs dwindle over the past two years. Recent media coverage on Myanmar’s current political climate seems to agree that, despite her prominence as a democratic leader in the not so distant past, the junta has increasingly muted Kyi’s voice. Even more recently, the junta has reduced Kyi’s sentence from 33 years by a mere 6. What this reveals Myanmar’s current power structure and foreign relations lends itself to an interesting discussion.

China’s newly proclaimed support for Myanmar’s junta, after years of collaboration with the National League for Democracy government, came to the surprise of many. But considering China’s current support of Russia and the speculations surrounding China’s Belt and Road initiative, it should not have. In what seems a scramble for resources and alliance between competing world powers, China appears more than willing to trade its reputation to gain in other areas.

In ANTH-187 at Lehigh University, we have studied China’s Belt and Road Initiative as well as its geopolitical implications, particularly related to the United States. If China is taking strides to grow increasingly connected with and also promote growth in neighboring countries–Myanmar included–it has relatively little incentive to question the integrity of Myanmar’s rule and jeopardize its own investment in the nation.

Given China’s support of Russia and Myanmar’s junta, both of which are in violation of basic human rights, it is clear that China is majorly focused on the ROI’s of its investment in the Eastern world; and less on how the returns are generated. Taking it a step further, my speculation is that the BRI’s purpose is maximum gain for China. If it were concerned with humanitarian action and the greater good of its partner’s citizens, such as the civilians in Myanmar, China would temporarily put its investments to the side and intervene.

In class, we discussed whether or not U.S. unease is justified is up for debate. Though seemingly rational. I find that, because China is willing to turn a blind eye to its ally’s breaches in morality, U.S. concern is warranted. Without a definitive moral standard, China will continue to augment its power at the cost of innocent lives.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/01/world/asia/aung-san-suu-kyi-pardon-myanmar.html?searchResultPosition=3

https://www.cfr.org/blog/chinas-support-myanmar-further-shows-world-dividing-autocracy-versus-democracy