China Reaches Out to Myanmar's Opposition

As the long-ruling military junta in Myanmar continues its political and economic reforms, Beijing is trying to expand ties with other important political players in order to maintain influence in the strategically important country. In the past two decades, Beijing was able to rely on its close relationship with the junta to establish access to energy from Myanmar's pipelines and ensure border stability, but at the expense of forming official relationships with the opposition parties or restive ethnic groups. As part of its new approach, China has already sponsored a high-level mediation meeting between Myanmar's government and the Kachin Independence Army, an ethnic rebel movement, and Beijing is preparing to reach out to opposition parties in the country. However, this could be complicated by the groups' lack of experience in politics and China's need to preserve good relations with Myanmar's military.