Beijing, the military junta’s most precious ally
Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Gas reserves amounting to hundreds of millions of barrels, but above all, a sea port on the Indian ocean and a pipeline to carry crude oil from Africa, the Middle East and Venezuela. For China Myanmar is a fundamental strategic ally, for its energy resources and its strategic position.
China’s National Development Reform Commission approved plans in April to build a pipeline that would carry China’s Middle East oil from a deep water port off Sittwe across Myanmar to Yunnan. State owned PetroChina signed a protocol with Myanmar for the provision of over 6.5 trillion cubed feet of gas from the waters of the Bengali Gulf.
A port on the Bengali Gulf would is also central in controlling traffic on the Indian ocean and the US navy manoeuvres in the area. Chinese goods bound for Europe, Middle East and India could also set sail from there. Beijing is also willing to contribute to the building of a super high-way from northern Myanmar to North east India, committing 40 thousand Chinese labourers.
Myanmar also sells wood (at least 350 million dollars worth in 2005, above all illegally according to Global Witness) and precious stones, while Beijing provides arms and manufactured goods of all kinds. This “official” commercial trade were worth 1,11 billion dollars in the first 7 months of 2007 (+39,4% compared to 2006), but the total earnings from the “illegal” trade in drugs, precious stones and rare woods needs to be added. Beijing also extends loans on the promised gas supply: in 2003 it lent 200 million dollars for a hydro-electric plant near Mandalay, even if it then insisted that only Chinese companies, materials and labourers were used in its construction. Dozens of other projects are being planned.
It is estimated that over one million Chinese – farmers, labourers and businessmen – have taken up residence in Myanmar over the last 10 years and excellent Chinese restaurants can be found in Yangon’s port.
China also provides the junta “political” protection : in January China and Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning the grave and systematic violation of human rights carried out by the junta.
Now China is “seriously concerned” by what is happening and hopes that the “government and people can find a just solution to their current problems”, said the spokesman for the Chinese foreign minister Jiang Yu, on September 25th. But this is said above all to foreign media: in state newspapers miniscule information is given regarding the demonstrations, no photo’s and ample space to the junta’s defence of public security.
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