The vexing strategic tug-of-war over Naypyidaw: ASEAN's view of the Sino-Burmese ties

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

This article argues that ASEAN’s policy toward Myanmar has been predominantly responsive, dictated by China’s activism in the region. It posits three arguments: First, that the release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, may have been a tactical move to convince ASEAN to award it the 2014 chairmanship and thereby consolidate the legitimacy of the current regime; second, that Thein Sein’s suspension of the Myitsone Dam was a strategic move intended to please both domestic and ASEAN constituencies; and third, that Myanmar’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014 will help justify the organisation’s past approach to Burma as well as accelerate the process of community-building. The paper argues that in spite of the growing interconnectedness between ASEAN and China, ASEAN is locked in a strategic tug-of-war with China over Myanmar. Myanmar has, on multiple occasions, played upon ASEAN’s suspicion of China by playing the “China card,” as I term it, forcing ASEAN to continually legitimise it through public statements.

Object Details

• Alternative title: Das irritierende Tauziehen um Naypyidaw: die Sicht der ASEAN zur sino-birmesischen Verbindung
• ISSN: 1868-4882
• Extent: Seite(n): 97-114
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Status: Veröffentlichungsversion; begutachtet (peer reviewed)

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 31(1)

Classification and Topics

• Subject: Internationale Beziehungen ; Politikwissenschaft ; Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, Sicherheitspolitik ; internationale Beziehungen, Entwicklungspolitik ; Ostasien ; Südostasien ; Myanmar ; Konfliktpotential ; ASEAN ; Konfliktregelung ; China ; deskriptive Studie

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Chachavalpongpun, Pavin
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Deutschland
• (when): 2012

Further information

• URN: urn:nbn:de:gbv:18-4-5146
• Last update: 21.06.2024, 4:27 PM CEST