The recent military coup in Myanmar reversed a decade-long experiment towards incremental political liberalization. At the same time, it also brought China’s engagement there back into the spotlight, and initial Chinese reactions led to suspicions that Beijing had welcomed or even aided the return to military rule. However, the reality of China’s role in Myanmar’s democratic transition and simultaneous peace process is far more complicated, and instructive for its overall engagement in conflict societies.
Author: Pascal Abb
Dr. Pascal Abb is Senior Researcher at PRIF. His research is focused on Chinese conceptions of world orders, Chinese foreign policy, the Belt and Road Initiative, knowledge and governance, and Taiwan.
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