A New Era for China-Myanmar Relations?

With the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) landslide victory in the general elections in November, China expects a new page in Myanmar’s domestic politics and foreign policy under the new government to be inaugurated at the end of March 2016. The NLD’s yet-to-be-clarified policy direction has led to a major sense of uncertainty in the Chinese policy community, giving rise to heated discussion about whether (and if so, how) China should once again adjust its policy toward Myanmar. While the change of government in Myanmar does not alter China’s overall goals in its relations with the southwestern neighbor, China nonetheless hopes to start a new era in its relations with Myanmar. For the foreseeable future, however, the details of China’s policy will be determined by the positions and policies of the NLD government. (Courtesy of The Diplomat)