Concerns over Burma’s ties with North Korea and China have prompted the US to sit up and take notice of the country. But it needs a road map.
The last time Burma really mattered to the United States, Imperial Japanese forces were marching on Asia. Vinegar Joe Stillwell built a road through the Burmese jungle to resupply China during the Pacific War, a backbreaking project that cost the lives of some 1,100 US soldiers before its completion in 1944. The Stillwell Road was pivotal then, but just like American interest in Burma, it soon fell into disrepair.
Burma matters to US strategy again. Human rights concerns about the military grip on the region’s poorest country are overshadowed by geostrategic concerns about the regime’s ties to China and North Korea. China’s desire for strategic real estate and hunger for natural resources are turning Burma into a proxy state, while North Korea’s weapons export business shifts Burma into a potential nuclear weapon state. Beijing has recently reconstructed the old British and American Burma Road.
The Obama administration has responded by naming an ambassadorial-level coordinator: Derek Mitchell, presently acting assistant secretary of defence. But what’s next? US Burma policy is notoriously feckless. Well-intentioned support for the iconic Aung San Suu Kyi, the last democratically elected leader, makes for a photo opportunity, but is failing to affect Burmese bad behaviour or constrain Chinese encroachment. In the past, an almost exclusive focus on human rights has done little to change Burma, but a great deal to isolate the United States from its allies and friends in South and East Asia.
A new approach is needed. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took the essential first step last month in Bali by giving further definition to the policy of principled engagement. She demanded compliance with UN Security Council resolutions, a reference to the regime’s nuclear ambitions. She also called for releasing 2,200 political prisoners and opening dialogue with the opposition and ethnic minorities. But given the administration’s determination to reenergize US influence in a vibrant region, it’s noteworthy that Clinton put the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on notice not to bestow on Burma chairmanship for 2014 unless it earns it. At the same time, she in effect dangled the carrot of international legitimacy should Burma embrace change.
The gap between Burma and the United States yawns. We therefore need a road map for navigating between the Scylla of human rights and Charybdis of realpolitik. The original Burma Road overcame gnarly mountainous terrain; a new road map must traverse seemingly intractable machinations emanating from the new palatial capital in Naypyidaw. The first road linked Burma to China; this pathway must provide both an alternative to Chinese domination, as well as greater freedom for all Burma’s people. Gen. Stillwell built the first road; Clinton must connect this one.
There’s precedent for building US ties with an adversarial, autocratic state: Vietnam. In fact, some of the same voices who would like to test Burma’s seriousness about a new relationship have experience with this kind of challenge. Senators John McCain and John Kerry helped to convert a former enemy into a flourishing economic and security partner, despite nagging differences over human rights. If a US Navy destroyer can make a port visit to Da Nang, Vietnam (as USS John S. McCain did last year), then finding a gradual opening to Burma must be possible.
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Linh Bling
Myanmar verses Vietnam:
Vn – equally corrupt, just more polished thugs and thieves, main difference is that the bribery, corruption and cronyism in Vn is condoned, sanctioned and financed by the WB, IFC, ADB and the collective naivety of the Western Governments.
Vn – Human rights, equally abusive, done behind closed doors and the socialist hand of intimidation, and no risk of reprisal by the press, there it isn’t any.
Vn – electoral reforms – it is a single party socialist regime under the dictatorship of the party, the people have no say and no votes, the concept of electoral reforms is unheard of.
Vn – freedom of the press is zero, reason for the lack of awareness of what going on by the rest of the world.
In terms of Freedom of the Press in Myanmar is light years ahead of Vietnam – at least they know what it is, in Myanmar I understand that there is Western media, whereas in Vietnam ALL media is censored and controlled by the State a huge difference where as in Myanmar it has a reasonable degree of autonomy.
Leonard R.
I wish US leaders would look at a map now & then. That’s where wisdom begins.
The US is in no position to compete with China or India for that matter in Burma. Even if it were, what is there to win?
_____
@Prof. Cronin: “Burma matters to US strategy again. Human rights concerns about the military grip on the region’s poorest country are overshadowed by geostrategic concerns about the regime’s ties to China and North Korea.”
____
With all due respect Professor Cronin, Burma does not matter to the US.
It matters to China, India, ASEAN, Thailand. But it doesn’t matter to the US.
Russell
Burma is sandwiched between China and India, two of the world’s emerging superpowers. It will likely be the main trade and transport link between those two countries.
Not to mention its coastline on the Malacca Straits.
America would be mad not to want to get her hands on Burma.
Nowhere plans
China finances America
China Finance Burma
Got questions?
See a shrink
All of these comments are nonsense
The Burmese have been reaching out to the USA for 16 years
the slaps are starting to really be callous
Radha Krishnan
Discussion on this subject is timely but should have started much earlier. There is yearning in Mynamar to join the multiparty comity of nations. The military may also be looking for a way out and needs. It wants to emerge out of the cul-de-sac. Pointing it in the best direction is therefore responsibilty of the international community especially regional players. India not China has a huge role to play. Sanction of any kind has not delivered results, the people are hard hit. This has driven the military into the hands of China and North Korea.Look at Myanmar’s credentials and compare it with that of China. To its credit, Myanmar has held two general elections, the one in 1990 being the best so far. Compare this to China which is yet to hold multiparty elections even once in the chequered history of the CCP.Further China’s track record on human rights, electoral reforms, corruption and above all drug traffic is far to severe than that of Myanmar. No wonder the West treats China with kid gloves for obviously self serving reasons than poor Myanmar. There is more Chinese drugs and narcotics in USA and Europe than imagined but China is never mentioned in it all. It is time to bring sunshine into Myanmar and relieve it off the pointless sanctions. Engage the regime today in what ever manner and you will find that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will become evem more meaningful.
friendofindia
This is pure rantings from one of them usual slum-snobs.
The Queen of Tahir Square
The Queen of the mess in the Middle East is now finger pointing ?
Give it up they will survive without her and if they have any ambitions
its to safe their asses from another invasion she might start in Burma
But she will never be allowed China will clean her clock and
you know what else
She should shut her blow hole
LD
This article advocates more engagement by the US business community but conveniently ignores the existing US-Burma business relationship. Chevron is in a direct partnership with the Burmese junta. According to the IMF, the regime books its revenues into the national budget at the old “official” exchange rate of 6 kyat to the dollar, while the “real” exchange rate is about 800 kyat to the dollar. So the regime makes more than 99% of the revenues simply disappear, into personal accounts in Singapore primarily. The upshot? A Burmese natural resource is exported, and the revenues are shared between multinational corporations and the personal accounts of the murderous, abusive generals. The people get neither the resource nor the revenue. This isn’t even taking into account the thievery, extortion and violence that accompanied the project when it was built (see Doe v. Unocal, settled for $30 million compensation). That’s what Cronin says he wants more of.
One more point: Cronin references McCain as helping open US-Vietnam relations. He conveniently ignores the fact that McCain sought to do the same in Burma, yet, as he has visited and learned the real situation over the past 15 years, he has recognized this is impossible under the current crop of Burmese thugs, and is instead among their staunchest opponents in Congress. Look it up.
Derek
Burma is actually quite a civilized country and many of the difficulties could be quickly resolved with genuine engagement from the USA. Clinton needs to visit Burma and sample the local cuisine; Kissinger certainly enjoyed roast duck when he visited China.
US support of economic development in Myanmar can help lift the world Out of the current financial crisis. Shwedagon is actually made of solid Gold so the country certainly has the reserves to back up their currency.
With the USA helping fastback development in Myanmar there will be a snowball effect lifting countries like Bangladesh and Western China.
The Burmese / Myanmar government is certainly more than willing to engage with the west and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has found an able role in championing social welfare.
When Hilary Clinton visits she is she Her hardest task is likely to be singling out her favorite culinary delight,