Myanmar’s Balanced Diplomacy From The Perspective On China-Myanmar Economic Cooperation

In the diplomatic exchanges between different countries in the world,in order to be able to make the major powers in a particular area of strength in relative balance,to prevent a power for control of the region and is too strong,and maintenance and maintain their own interests,many countries adopted in maintain relative balance between the power of the foreign policy.Balanced diplomacy is a very common foreign policy in international studies.In spite of that,the forms of balanced diplomacy vary in different countries,and Myanmar is no exception.Located in the northwest of the Indo-China Peninsula in Asia,Myanmar’s superior geographical position and abundant natural resources make it an important pivot country.In the current international situation,with the increase of China’s national comprehensive power and the intensification of the competition between China and the United States,the United States is trying to contain the rise of China by exerting influence on China’s neighboring countries,with Myanmar bearing the brunt of it.As for China,Myanmar is an important energy route,and developing closer cooperation with Myanmar can also help boost the prosperity of Southwest China to a large extent.In addition,Myanmar,which has a long history of colonialism,attaches great importance to its own security interests.It always pays attention to maintaining proper distance in the communication between major powers to maintain its independence and security.From the perspective of balanced diplomacy theory,the superiority of Myanmar’s geographical position,the strategic value and the objective fact of the comprehensive power gap between Myanmar and China and the United States make it possible for Myanmar to implement balanced foreign policy.China and Myanmar have different histories and cultures,and their basic national conditions remain different as well.Despite the occasional minor differences in their mutual exchange,China and Myanmar have never ceased to exchange and cooperate with each other.As one of the small countries pursuing balanced diplomacy,Myanmar has its own principles and considerations in its dealings with China.With the development of globalization,the economic interdependence of countries has gradually deepened,and foreign economic cooperation has then become an important part of a country’s foreign relations.Hence Myanmar’s overall foreign policy is also reflected in its economic diplomacy.This paper attempts to explore the purpose and significance of implementing and sticking to a balanced foreign policy in the economic exchanges between Burma and China after its independence in 1948.This kind of foreign policy is the concrete embodiment and influence of the economic cooperation between China and MyanmarThis paper is trying to approach the issue of balance theory into a new context,discusses the balanced diplomacy theory in the economic exchanges between China and Myanmar,and tests and supplements the theory to some extent from a brand new angle.In addition,under the current changes in the world,it can be used as a reference for the prediction of Myanmar’s possible future foreign policy.At the same time,under the opportunity of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Myanmar and the new situation of Myanmar army taking over the political power,it also has a certain reference role for China to formulate foreign policy towards Myanmar in the futureThis paper attempts to explore how balanced diplomacy has been reflected in China-Myanmar economic cooperation by reviewing and summarizing Myanmar’s overall foreign policy and Myanmar’s economic policy towards China in different time periods.This paper examines Myanmar’s foreign policy in a chronological manner,which shows that Myanmar has always adhered to the balanced foreign policy based on the basic principle of "neutral diplomacy",despite the fact that the ruling philosophy of Myanmar’s successive leaders and the international situation at the time were not identical.On this basis,this paper compares the implementation methods and means related to balanced diplomacy in the theory of balanced diplomacy(following,distancing,balancing,etc.)with the actual situation of China-Myanmar economic exchanges.On top of that,this paper further explains Myanmar’s balanced foreign policy from different aspects through qualitative and quantitative analysis,including making use of its resources and geographic advantages to try to get on the "free ride" of the economic development of major powers,strengthening cooperation in key economic fields and formulating corresponding economic plans etc.,in order to maximize its own economic interests while ensuring its own security interests.Although Myanmar’s current political situation is not yet stable,its history of balanced diplomacy suggests that such a foreign policy has provided a more relaxed international environment for Myanmar,and that it will continue to do so in the future.In future cooperation,China should also strengthen top-level diplomacy,enhance non-governmental exchanges and enhance the transparency of Chinese enterprises to further smoothen the cooperation between China and Myanmar.