Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Contents
- List of Tables and Boxes
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- ASEAN Organizational Structure
- 1 Introduction: Southeast Asia, Myanmar and ASEAN
- 2 ASEAN: Evolution of Regional Cooperation in Southeast Asia
- 3 Political and Economic Development of Myanmar: An Overview
- 4 Myanmar in ASEAN
- 5 Myanmar-ASEAN Cooperation for Development
- 6 Conclusion: Issues and Challenges
- Postscript
- Bibliography
- Appendix I The ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration), 8 August 1967
- Appendix II Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality Declaration (Kuala Lumpur Declaration), 27 November 1971
- Appendix III Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, 24 February 1976
- Appendix III(a) Protocol Amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Philippines, 15 December 1987
- Appendix III(b) Second Protocol Amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia
- Appendix IV Declaration of ASEAN Concord, Indonesia, 24 February 1976
- Appendix V Hanoi Plan of Action
- Appendix VI ASEAN Vision 2020
- Appendix VII Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone
- Appendix VIII Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area
- Appendix VIII(a) Protocol to Amend the Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area
- Appendix IX Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation, 28 November 1999
- Index
5 - Myanmar-ASEAN Cooperation for Development
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 October 2015
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Contents
- List of Tables and Boxes
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- ASEAN Organizational Structure
- 1 Introduction: Southeast Asia, Myanmar and ASEAN
- 2 ASEAN: Evolution of Regional Cooperation in Southeast Asia
- 3 Political and Economic Development of Myanmar: An Overview
- 4 Myanmar in ASEAN
- 5 Myanmar-ASEAN Cooperation for Development
- 6 Conclusion: Issues and Challenges
- Postscript
- Bibliography
- Appendix I The ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration), 8 August 1967
- Appendix II Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality Declaration (Kuala Lumpur Declaration), 27 November 1971
- Appendix III Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, 24 February 1976
- Appendix III(a) Protocol Amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Philippines, 15 December 1987
- Appendix III(b) Second Protocol Amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia
- Appendix IV Declaration of ASEAN Concord, Indonesia, 24 February 1976
- Appendix V Hanoi Plan of Action
- Appendix VI ASEAN Vision 2020
- Appendix VII Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone
- Appendix VIII Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area
- Appendix VIII(a) Protocol to Amend the Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area
- Appendix IX Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation, 28 November 1999
- Index
Summary
As mentioned in the previous chapter, Myanmar has participated in all the various ASEAN activities: political and security cooperation, economic cooperation and functional cooperation. This chapter depicts and analyses Myanmar's cooperation in the political, security, economic and social areas.
MYANMAR-ASEAN POLITICAL AND SECURITY COOPERATION
Sandwiched between the two largest and most powerful countries in Asia — China and India, Myanmar is in a strategically important position in the region. Myanmar's relationship with China is friendly, with the exception of the period of the Cultural Revolution, and based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence. The relationship seems to have improved especially after 1988, when the army took over power in Myanmar. This is because China has given Myanmar political and economic support while the West, led by the United States, has imposed sanctions due to the allegedly poor human rights situation in the country. China is also reportedly supplying Myanmar with military hardware. President Jiang Zemin paid a visit to Myanmar in 2001 and signed several agreements on economic cooperation.
The relationship with its other neighbour India has been improving since the Vajpayee government's “Look East” policy. Some analysts see India's approaches toward Myanmar as a way to prevent it from tilting towards China, which had border clashes with India some decades ago; India is also worried that China could gain access to the Indian Ocean through Myanmar. However, given the improving relationship between India and China, neither India nor China is a threat for Myanmar. Instead, the good relationships among the three neighbouring countries contributed to peace and stability in the region.
On the other hand, Myanmar's geographical position neighbouring the two Asian giants, especially China, worries some ASEAN nations and Japan, according to some analysts. However, Myanmar believes that it can serve as a bridge between ASEAN and the two Asian nuclear powers.
Meanwhile, Myanmar's relationship with the ASEAN nations has improved remarkably since it joined the regional association with the exception of some cross-border “hiccups” between Myanmar and Thailand in early 2001.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Myanmar in ASEANRegional Cooperation Experience, pp. 91 - 120Publisher: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak InstitutePrint publication year: 2005