Myanmar-China relations (2003-2011)

Myanmar was under military regime after a coup in 1988 until 2011 and the United States led western countries imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar for human rights violation and non-democratization within the country-the toughest period was during 2003 to 2011. The pragmatic approach to China which became rising superpower after its economic reform in the 1980s was the right option for Myanmar to counter the US-led international pressure. The purpose of this study is to examine how Myanmar benefited from China during the international pressure especially the sanction period. The research question for this study, to be precise, is “How has the relationship with China during 2003 to 2011 benefited Myanmar's national interest amidst the United States' pressures and economic sanctions?”. It can be clearly seen that China was rising to become superpower and boost in their economy-finally became the second largest economy in the world after the United States in 2010; with the long-standing friendship “Pauk-Phaw” relationship between Myanmar and China and eventually reached the strategic partner in 2011, Myanmar’s pragmatic approach to China in terms of political as well as economic where all doors are closed from the western world. In order to achieve the findings of this study, the thorough examinations will be made upon all ties between Myanmar and China and the hedging theory, specifically Myanmar’s binding-engagement to China bilaterally and through regional fora, has to be carried out. The research methodology will be documentary analysis-study through the works of well-known scholars as well as the primary resources like the leaders' speeches and studying the bilateral engagements such as bilateral agreements. The explanation of theories tested in this study will be helpful to prove Myanmar's approach to China amidst USled international pressures. The possible outcomes of this study will probably confirm the hypothesis of economic pragmatism and binding-engagement of Myanmar towards China to achieve certain political and economic benefits while countering the US-led international pressures and economic sanctions. In the case of Myanmar-China relations-the economic sanctions on authoritarian states by the western democratic states and survival of regimes through these sanctions-the country played both sides with the neighbouring superpower to counter international pressures.