China’s foreign policy toward Myanmar after 2011

This thesis presents an exhaustive exploration of China's foreign policy trajectory concerning Myanmar in the post-2011 era. This study uses the perspective of offensive realism to analyze China's foreign policy toward Myanmar in an effort to close important gaps in the present scholarly discourse. Fundamental research questions are at the heart of this: Why is China so determined to assert its dominance over the region in interactions like Myanmar? How does China use a wide range of tools to establish and maintain its regional hegemony in Myanmar? What particular consequences does China's relentless pursuit of regional hegemony in Myanmar have for its use of economic, diplomatic, and soft power instruments? The basic study hypothesis holds that a complex combination of interconnected geopolitical, economic, and safety goals drives China's aggressive pursuit of regional supremacy in engagements like Myanmar. China adeptly employs a multifaceted strategy that encompasses economic, diplomatic, and soft power instruments to assert its influence, shape Myanmar's intricate political terrain, and drive regional hegemony, thereby reshaping the broader dynamics within the region. China's economic policy towards Myanmar gravitates significantly around the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This initiative, accentuating connectivity and transportation, strategically positions Myanmar due to its Southeast Asian location between China and the Andaman Sea. China prioritizes numerous projects in Myanmar, particularly emphasizing economic cooperation. Notably, the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) stands as a significant element of the BRI in Myanmar, serving as a crucial channel for commerce and cooperation. Augmented by the Yunnan Bridgehead Strategy, China aims to bolster economic competitiveness and regional integration, maximizing gains from Myanmar's resources and trade connectivity. Geopolitical considerations significantly mold China's foreign policy towards Myanmar. Securing access to the Indian Ocean and controlling the Kyauk Phyu deep-sea port on Myanmar's west coast are strategic imperatives for China. This strategic move allows certain Chinese shipments to bypass the congested Malacca Strait, enhancing energy security and aligning with China's two-ocean strategy. Myanmar's pivotal geopolitical significance also drives China's strategy in confronting the influence of major nations like the United States, India, and Japan. Moreover, Myanmar acts as a gateway for China's extended political and economic influence within ASEAN, enabling control over the larger Indo-Pacific area. The persistent ethnic disputes along the China-Myanmar border since Myanmar's independence have been a continuous concern for China's security. Tensions within the region raise genuine worries about energy security, prompting China to maintain a steadfast focus on peace along this border. China employs a comprehensive array of economic, diplomatic, political, and cultural instruments to engage Myanmar. Economically, China establishes bilateral trade and investment agreements, provides economic aid, and invests in vital infrastructure projects under the BRI. Diplomatically, China strategically leverages high-level engagements, extends diplomatic protection, participates actively in peace negotiations, and utilizes soft power strategies through cultural exchanges and media initiatives, fostering connections with diverse actors in Myanmar. China's complex strategic stance towards Myanmar has far-reaching effects on regional geopolitics and dynamics. As a result of Myanmar's BRI membership, China now has greater control over the country's socioeconomic environment and depends less on Western nations.But this increased involvement also causes surrounding countries to reevaluate their relationships and presents a variety of difficulties, such as internal division and anti-Chinese sentiment, which complicates China's geopolitical calculation in the region.