MYANMAR, THE US, AND CHINA

US-MYANMAR TIES FORCE CHINA RETHINK

Didier Lauras, AFP

The China Post, November 23, 2012

BANGKOK -- After years of almost unchallenged dominance, China's influence in Myanmar is under threat as the United States and other nations seek closer ties with the former pariah state, experts say.

The Asian economic powerhouse has long helped keep Myanmar afloat through trade ties, arms sales, and by shielding it from U.N. sanctions over rights abuses as a veto-wielding, permanent member of the Security Council.

In return, China was assured of a stable neighbor and access to Myanmar's oil, gas and other natural resources.

But since Myanmar's military ceded power last year, China has lost some of its leverage over the country formerly known as Burma.

European and U.S. firms are no longer banned from doing business there, leaving them scrambling to catch up with rivals from China, India and elsewhere in Asia in the competition for its resources and consumer markets.

U.S. President Barack Obama's historic visit to Yangon this week was the clearest indication yet of the sea change in relations under way between Washington and Myanmar.

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