Myanmar’s strategic position as a bridge between two rising Asian powers, China and India, places it at the center of a critical geopolitical nexus. The historian Thant Myint-U underscored the country’s strategic importance in his 2011 book “Where China Meets India.” Examining Myanmar’s pivotal role during its early semi-democratic transition under President Thein Sein, he likened the nation to the Suez Canal, a key intersection for global economic activity.

Myanmar’s involvement in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and India’s Act East Policy (AEP) has shaped the responses of both nations to the military coup of February 2021, which has placed economic considerations at the forefront. Both China and India have viewed Myanmar’s military as the stabilizing force necessary to protect their investments and regional strategies. This pragmatic approach underscores their foreign policy priorities with regard to Myanmar.

Without the political support of neighboring powers, Myanmar’s democratic forces face significant obstacles. Recent developments in China’s foreign policy towards Myanmar highlight this dynamic. China has actively sought to de-escalate conflicts between Myanmar’s military and ethnic armed groups, including the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army. These groups have been urged to........

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