S.H.A.N. & Burma's News Published by Burma's Chinese

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By John Lewis Tucker

October 23, 2005

(John Lewis Tucker is senior research assistant at the National DefenseCouncil Foundation, The Washington Times Commentary)

In recent years, the Chinese government has beckoned troubled Burma underits wing, and the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), Burma'soppressive military regime, becomes more compliant with China every year.

As Burma's largest trading partner and a constant source of arms, China is alarge financier of the regime. In return for more than $1 billion worth ofarms since 1990, the SPDC recently allowed China to build its first militarybase on the Indian Ocean, providing China access to every sea frontier inSoutheast Asia. As it benefits from American disinterest in the area, Chinacontinues fostering SPDC ties.

This is very dangerous for the U.S. and global proponents of democracy asthe world braces itself for the Second Cold War.

In addition to the enormous strategic benefits Burma could hold fordemocracy, the international community faces a moral obligation to impedethe military's tyranny. The SPDC oversees and executes a political agendarife with social transgressions against minorities and political opposition.Its most notable prisoner is Nobel laureate and leader of the NationalLeague for Democracy (NLD) Aung Sun Suu Kyi, under house arrest for nearlytwo decades. However, when the U.S. proposed a formal discussion of SuuKyi's release at the U.N. in 2004, Russia and China vetoed the issue beforeit reached the table.

To punish the Burma regime, the U.S. has pursued harsh economic sanctions.However, as a recent article in the Economist notes, American allies likethe European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)are conducting an economic plan in Burma completely contrary to that of theUnited States.

Even if the U.S. manages to coax its allies into matching its harsh economicpolicy, the SPDC will be forced to cement its strong ties with China. Theresulting isolation would punish only the regime's victims, as it has inNorth Korea.

These victims desperately anticipate more involvement from the U.S. and itallies. The U.S. invasion of Iraq inspired hope among the oppressed Burmeseand fear among the generals, who nervously prepare to move governmentheadquarters 400 miles inland to a fortified, 10-square-mile militarycomplex.

While bitter toward the regime, locals are also unhappy with the Chinese.Last month, a former member of the Burmese Communist Party, Aung Kyaw Zaw,expressed to the Irrawaddy, a Burmese news organization, his belief China isravaging Burma's resources without considering the consequences. "They aresupporting the people who are ruining the country," he said, "a lot ofpeople in Burma hate the Chinese."

Despite its tyranny, the regime does not entirely oppose democracy, at leastnot outwardly. In the last decade, it met twice to create a constitution,and in 2003 outlined a seven-point plan to move toward democracy.

Although it is widely assumed these efforts are simply props to quellinternational pressure, they are at least a small gesture of compliance.However, to achieve tangible democratic progress, the U.S. must act at firstin concert with Burma's other potential democratic partners, namely India,the EU and ASEAN.

This coalition must present the regime with a list of demands, including arevised and legitimate plan for democratization, release of Suu Kyi, aconstitution allowing representation of regime opponents, and eventually, afree, valid election.

In return for each political concessions, the democratic coalition musteliminate trade barriers and provide more financial aid to nurture thegrowing government.

The only way the U.S. can secure Burma as an ally is to outbid China witheconomic and political support. By offering more aid and protectionalongside a daunting coalition of democratic nations, the U.S. can woo thistroubled nation away from China's beckoning hand. Despite the grotesquesocial abuses by the regime and China's military exploitation, the Bushadministration's cold shoulder says Burma is unworthy of our support andunnecessary to our cause.

Historically, it has not been U.S. policy to abandon people in need, but weneed to act soon before China clenches its fist on this helpless nation. _(²©Ñ¶×ÔÓÉ·¢¸åÇø·¢¸å) (boxun.com)