The author is a reporter with the Global Times.
It is regrettable to see some Indians are still in a zero-sum mindset and treat China’s increasing influence in Myanmar with suspicion and even hostility.
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi’s recent trip to China has been widely associated with Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw’s visit to India, with the Times of India on Tuesday describing Myanmar as “a theatre of geopolitical competition between India and China.”
It is understandable to evaluate bilateral ties from a geopolitical perspective, but China is unlikely to be interested in begrudging any increased interaction between India and Myanmar. In contrast, China would be happy to see more substantive help from India to the Southeast Asian country, for instance in promoting Myanmar’s peace process.
In the past few days, India and China have both expressed a willingness to play a role in Myanmar’s peace process. Hopefully the two countries can put aside any antagonistic feelings and work together to support this process.
Observers across the globe have placed high hopes on Myanmar’s peace talks – which starts Wednesday – between the authorities and ethnic armies, that looks to end decades of civil strife in the Southeast Asian country. However, bringing interested parties to the negotiating table is just the beginning of a lengthy process in solving the protracted problem between Myanmar’s ethnic armies and the military.
It is quite likely that Myanmar’s peace process will require a lot of financial support including helping Myanmar’s discharged military return to economic production and constructing public facilities to improve living standards in regions where ethic armies wields a great influence in a bid to obtain local support.
Auxiliary efforts including providing farm tools, fertilizer, seeds and farm machinery may be needed to promote this process, but it may not be easy for Myanmar’s government to complete such tasks alone.
Promoting Myanmar’s peace process is in accord with the basic interests of, not only the Southeast Asian nation, but the whole region. After promising its support, India may need to think about how it can work with other countries, China and ASEAN members included, to provide economic assistance to Myanmar.
The 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference has been widely hailed as a big achievement of Myanmar’s new government. Hopefully, Asian countries can stop being suspicious of each other and seize the opportunity to promote regional peace, stability and development. http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1003805.shtml
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