Burma’s saviour

While India largely ignores the unfolding political drama in Burma, where Buddhist monks and nuns have given a new boost to the pro-democracy movement in recent weeks, China seems to be rapidly repositioning itself.

For more than a decade, China and India have defied international attempts to isolate Burma’s armed forces, which have ruled with an iron hand after crushing a popular uprising in 1988, in their relentless rivalry to expand their influence.

With two large neighbours courting them, the Burmese generals could easily ignore pressures from the

Western countries as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that has sought to embark on a “constructive engagement” of the dictatorship.

As renewed protests in Burma galvanise the United Nations to consider new sanctions against the regime, New Delhi is in the danger of being caught flat-footed while Beijing is projecting itself as a potential mediator in the gathering crisis.

China, along with Russia, had successfully toned down a resolution of the United Nations Security Council a few months ago. It is now beginning to shift its weight in the other direction by nudging the Burmese generals to respond. A few months ago, China facilitated a meeting between American and Burmese officials in Beijing. In a rare move, earlier this month, Beijing went public with its efforts to push Burma towards political reform.

The former Chinese foreign minister and current state councillor, Tang Jiaxuan, met the Burmese Foreign Minister U. Nyan Win and urged him to promote internal stability through national reconciliation.

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