By Prashanth Parameswaran
Beijing is still struggling to adapt to Myanmar’s new landscape.
Mounting local opposition to Chinese-backed infrastructure projects in Myanmar over the past few months has again led to growing scrutiny on Beijing’s influence in the Southeast Asian state.
Trouble surfaced once more last month in the Letpadaung copper mine in northwest Myanmar, a joint venture between a Chinese state-owned arms manufacturer and the Myanmar military. After dozens of villagers had obstructed the erection of a fence in the project area, Myanmar police fired on protesters near the mine, leaving one woman dead and nine other villagers wounded. While China expressed regret at the incident, protests continued at the dam site and in other parts of the country, including outside the Chinese embassy in Yangon.
The Letpadaung project became a focus of international attention in 2012, when Myanmar police used phosphorus smoke bombs to disperse demonstrating villagers and Buddhist monks, causing several injuries. Since then, locals and activists have continued to hold protests demanding the project’s suspension, citing concerns including pollution, unfair wages for local employees, forced relocations, and illegal land confiscations.
Read the full story at The Diplomat