China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC)

After some initial hesitation, China is moving CMEC ahead in tandem with Myanmar’s military rulers – at least where the situation is stable enough to do so.

The vague plan would see mainland Southeast Asian countries contribute to the flagship Chinese infrastructure initiative.

China’s endorsement of the junta lays the basis for a boom in trade with the fractious eastern state – or so Beijing hopes.

The military coup of February 2021 has opened up new avenues of collaboration between Myanmar and China.

Sun Guoxiang's surreptitious visit marks China's full return to "business as usual" in Myanmar.

The opening of the Chengdu-Lincang line will further mainland Southeast Asia's historic reorientation toward the north.

After Chinese factories were damaged during anti-coup protests, an editorial warned that “China won't allow its interests to be exposed to further aggression."

There is little reason to doubt Beijing's claim that the coup and ensuing crisis is "not what China wants to see.”

China will stick to its strict policy of non-intervention, but the military takeover has created a diplomatic headache for Beijing.

Beijing continues to focus on deepening its physical integration with the Southeast Asian nations to its south.

The foreign minister’s trip was about much more than COVID-19 vaccines.