By Jeremie P. Credo
Myanmar’s opening has made its growing strategic value to major powers even more evident.
After 49 years of limited interaction with the international community, Myanmar is fast becoming a valuable strategic and economic partner for various regional stakeholders as it gradually relaxes its strong military rule. While the United States previously chose to isolate and punish the military-led regime through political and economic sanctions, China has been the most engaged with Myanmar’s military junta. Meanwhile, India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) opted to use constructive engagement with the country.
Now that Myanmar is opening its doors, its growing significance is becoming more and more evident. With its untapped natural resources, large potential of its nascent markets and strategic geographic location connecting South and Southeast Asia (and mainland China), external powers are expected to increasingly engage with Myanmar. They are transforming their once restricted interactions with Myanmar towards more collaborative endeavors. Myanmar can be a commercial highway from South Asia to Southeast Asia and mainland China to Southeast Asia. It is also a country where other states have an interest to curtail Chinese influence and hence may be the next field for geopolitical competition among major powers.
Read the full story at The Diplomat