Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's "National Unity**" handed a circular to China in 2024, expressing their attitude towards China and showing a positive signal of cooperation with China. The content of the circular mainly includes recognition of China and a positive attitude towards cooperation. Aung San Suu Kyi's attitude not only shows that Myanmar is a friendly neighbor of China, but also shows that no foreign forces that interfere in Myanmar can undermine the friendship between China and Myanmar. This change also shows that in the game, strategic layout is crucial, and China is clearly in the lead.
The good news from Myanmar is that Min Aung Hlaing, who is about to come to power, has restarted strategic port cooperation with China, which is undoubtedly good news for China. While it may not be possible to foresee much benefit in the short term, it is a strategic benefit for us in the long run. This kind of strategic layout will not only help us cope with the containment of the United States and Western countries, but also achieve a strategic breakthrough. Of course, this also requires our continuous attention and corresponding actions to ensure the smooth progress of cooperation.
Recently, Myanmar's Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone deep-water port project was officially signed, which means that the construction of this project, which was suspended after Min Aung Hlaing** took office, will be restarted. This project has been going on for 13 years and has been facing various difficulties and challenges. But now with this supplementary agreement, the construction of the project will enter an accelerated phase.
For Myanmar, the construction of the Kyaukphyu deep-water port will greatly promote economic development. The port economy can not only stimulate the sluggish economy, but also drive the development of corresponding infrastructure construction and logistics industry. The completion of this project will create more jobs in Myanmar and provide opportunities for rapid economic development.
For China, the completion of the Kyaukphyu deep-water port is also of great strategic significance. First, it will allow China to bypass the Strait of Malacca, reduce its dependence on the strait, and improve the efficiency and competitiveness of cargo transportation. Second, the completion of the deep-water port will enhance China's influence in the Indian Ocean and support China's Indian Ocean strategy. In addition, compared with the Gwadar port in Pakistan, the internal security situation in Myanmar is relatively stable, which provides a certain guarantee for the smooth progress of the project.
The completion of this project will also be a setback for the containment strategies of the United States and India. The United States and India have joined forces to curb China's influence in the Indian Ocean, and the completion of the Kyaukphyu deep-water port will give China more options in the Indian Ocean. Although these ports may not be a replacement for the Malacca shipping lanes in the short term, they can at least reduce the pressure on Malacca and become a backup option if necessary. The containment strategies of the United States and India will lose their support, and the balance of power in the Indian Ocean region will change in the future.
In short, Myanmar's circular of friendship and cooperation to China and the accelerated construction of the Kyaukphyu deep-water port project are of great significance to both China and Myanmar. This will not only contribute to the development of Myanmar's economy and the implementation of China's Indian Ocean strategy, but will also bring setbacks to the containment strategies of the United States and India. China's leading position in strategic layout will provide important support for us to gain the initiative in the changing situation.