From a relatively small number of troops at the time of the country's independence in 1948, the T... more From a relatively small number of troops at the time of the country's independence in 1948, the Tatmadaw, or Myanmar Armed Forces, has grown into one of Southeast Asia's formidable militaries, even while details on the total number of troops and units are difficult to ascertain. Indeed, they remain a matter of secrecy. Undoubtedly, the Tatmadaw is today far better equipped than it was when it took over the state three decades ago, in September 1988, in the name of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)-to become the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in 1997. The cash-strapped socialist regime of the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), which ran the country from 1974 to 1988, had, despite its best effort to look after the military, done little to modernize the Tatmadaw. The latter thus remained a poorly equipped force, relative to its peers in the region. It was essentially a counter-insurgency force with almost no capability to engage in conventional warfare.
The successive Myanmar governments have been dealing with a question of how to manage their relat... more The successive Myanmar governments have been dealing with a question of how to manage their relations with China in order to preserve the country's independence, political autonomy, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity while asymmetry of power between the two countries is a reality. In the mid-1950s, the Myanmar government coined and popularized the term " Pauk-Phaw " (kinfolk) to guide and manage its relations with China. It is in the name of " Pauk-Phaw " that the Myanmar government has not only handled and resolved outstanding issues between the two countries but also stabilized the bilateral relationship whenever there is a problem. In order to understand Myanmar's approach towards China, this paper, therefore, raises the following question: what is the logic behind Myanmar's China policy? In other words, the paper tries to shed light on the substance of Myanmar's " Pauk-Phaw " concept. It is hereby argued that the logic of Myanmar's China policy, since the establish of diplomatic relations between the two countries, has been firmly based on Myanmar's historical legacies, internal security challenges, geopolitical realities , and regional security context. While its foreign policy behaviors toward China have been adjusted occasionally, these fundamental elements remain relatively unaltered in the logic of Myanmar's China policy.
Myanmar’s foreign policy under the USDP government is historically consistent in terms of fundame... more Myanmar’s foreign policy under the USDP government is historically consistent in terms of fundamental principles of being independent, active, and non-aligned, as promulgated in the Constitution. However, the USDP government has pronounced a new foreign policy objective of reintegrating Myanmar into the international community. This objective is not in conflict with the existing ones nor does it seek to replace them, but rather endeavours to supplement them to make Myanmar’s foreign relations more active, dynamic, and international. This is by no means a major change in foreign policy orientation. It is merely an adjustment within the context of the fundamental principles of Myanmar’s foreign policy to cultivate friendly and balanced relations with all major powers active in the Indo-Pacific region. The change is mostly in terms of how the foreign policy is implemented and diplomacy is conducted. Since it came to power in 2011, the USDP government has pursued a foreign policy strategy that delicately balances the strategic interests of major powers in the country, that primarily maintains friendly relations with countries both near and far, and that applies multilateralism with an emphasis on regional cooperation or regional institutions. The foreign policy adjustment under the USDP government is leadership-driven, and it appears that the president is a prime mover and the Tatmadaw is a lead institution.
The government of Myanmar is today publicly committed to building a 'modern developed democratic ... more The government of Myanmar is today publicly committed to building a 'modern developed democratic nation'. It has initiated a number of measures aimed at political and economic liberalization. This article examines the military's perception of the ongoing process of liberalization. It argues that, on the basis of mutual understanding and smooth relations between the government and the military at both individual and institutional levels, the military is likely to continue its support for the political liberalization measures initiated by the President and supported by the National Assembly. However, the military is not yet prepared to tolerate any structural changes that would undermine its national political role, the basic principles it has laid down for national unity, or its institutional autonomy.
Page 1. 3/2002 WILL THE FAILED COUP ATTEMPT DERAIL THE ONGOING NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND POLITI... more Page 1. 3/2002 WILL THE FAILED COUP ATTEMPT DERAIL THE ONGOING NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND POLITICAL TRANSITION IN MYANMAR? Maung Aung Myoe1 March 2002 On 7 March 2002, news came out ...
... Sabrina Yow-chyi Liu Master Mediator Institute. ... A favor is always remembered and one shou... more ... Sabrina Yow-chyi Liu Master Mediator Institute. ... A favor is always remembered and one should repay the kindness in some way, either through a sweet deal or by ... of ethnic Chinese, reciprocity might be expected in the give and take in the negotiation while people tie up issues ...
... held on 3 December 2005, Major General Khin Aung Myint, Director of Public Relations of ... A... more ... held on 3 December 2005, Major General Khin Aung Myint, Director of Public Relations of ... At the present, Myanmar is using the Thai Shin Satellite ... M. Kelly, 1969), p. 141 9 Robert Heine-Geldern, Conceptions of State and Kingship in Southeast Asia, p. 1. 10 Myo Myint, Pattern ...
... 3 Regionalism in Myanmar's Foreign Policy: Past, Present, and Future Maung Aung Myoe ...... more ... 3 Regionalism in Myanmar's Foreign Policy: Past, Present, and Future Maung Aung Myoe ... approach to co-operation based on consultation and dialogue, which constitutes the ASEAN diplomatic norm, was by and large in line with the comfort level of the military regime in ...
... 3 A Historical Overview of Political Transition in Myanmar Since 1988 Maung Aung Myoe ... 9 F... more ... 3 A Historical Overview of Political Transition in Myanmar Since 1988 Maung Aung Myoe ... 9 For example, Captain Si Thu and three staff from the DDSI were caught red-handed and exposed in respect of their counter-intelligence activities on 26 August 1988. ...
... Date, www.nus.ari.edu.sg/pub/wps.htm. For instance, Smith, John, Ethnic Relations in Singapo... more ... Date, www.nus.ari.edu.sg/pub/wps.htm. For instance, Smith, John, Ethnic Relations in Singapore, ARI Working Paper, No. 1, June 2003, www.ari.nus.edu.sg/pub/wps.htm. Asia Research Institute Editorial Committee Geoffrey Wade Stephen Teo ...
... Furthermore, as it appears that the future Commander-in-Chief (Navy), Rear Admiral Soe Thein,... more ... Furthermore, as it appears that the future Commander-in-Chief (Navy), Rear Admiral Soe Thein, and Commander-in-Chief (Air Force), Major ... Even though Major General Myint Swe is being replaced by the present Chief-of-Staff (Air), Brigadier General Myat Hein (DSA-17), there ...
The year 2006 was marked by more entrenched and resilient military rule, which has become increas... more The year 2006 was marked by more entrenched and resilient military rule, which has become increasingly defiant against intense and growing international pressure. The Myanmar government has demonstrated that it plans to remain in power indefinitely and by any means, despite a successful effort by Western powers to place the Myanmar problem on the U.N. Security Council agenda.
From a relatively small number of troops at the time of the country's independence in 1948, the T... more From a relatively small number of troops at the time of the country's independence in 1948, the Tatmadaw, or Myanmar Armed Forces, has grown into one of Southeast Asia's formidable militaries, even while details on the total number of troops and units are difficult to ascertain. Indeed, they remain a matter of secrecy. Undoubtedly, the Tatmadaw is today far better equipped than it was when it took over the state three decades ago, in September 1988, in the name of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)-to become the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in 1997. The cash-strapped socialist regime of the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), which ran the country from 1974 to 1988, had, despite its best effort to look after the military, done little to modernize the Tatmadaw. The latter thus remained a poorly equipped force, relative to its peers in the region. It was essentially a counter-insurgency force with almost no capability to engage in conventional warfare.
The successive Myanmar governments have been dealing with a question of how to manage their relat... more The successive Myanmar governments have been dealing with a question of how to manage their relations with China in order to preserve the country's independence, political autonomy, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity while asymmetry of power between the two countries is a reality. In the mid-1950s, the Myanmar government coined and popularized the term " Pauk-Phaw " (kinfolk) to guide and manage its relations with China. It is in the name of " Pauk-Phaw " that the Myanmar government has not only handled and resolved outstanding issues between the two countries but also stabilized the bilateral relationship whenever there is a problem. In order to understand Myanmar's approach towards China, this paper, therefore, raises the following question: what is the logic behind Myanmar's China policy? In other words, the paper tries to shed light on the substance of Myanmar's " Pauk-Phaw " concept. It is hereby argued that the logic of Myanmar's China policy, since the establish of diplomatic relations between the two countries, has been firmly based on Myanmar's historical legacies, internal security challenges, geopolitical realities , and regional security context. While its foreign policy behaviors toward China have been adjusted occasionally, these fundamental elements remain relatively unaltered in the logic of Myanmar's China policy.
Myanmar’s foreign policy under the USDP government is historically consistent in terms of fundame... more Myanmar’s foreign policy under the USDP government is historically consistent in terms of fundamental principles of being independent, active, and non-aligned, as promulgated in the Constitution. However, the USDP government has pronounced a new foreign policy objective of reintegrating Myanmar into the international community. This objective is not in conflict with the existing ones nor does it seek to replace them, but rather endeavours to supplement them to make Myanmar’s foreign relations more active, dynamic, and international. This is by no means a major change in foreign policy orientation. It is merely an adjustment within the context of the fundamental principles of Myanmar’s foreign policy to cultivate friendly and balanced relations with all major powers active in the Indo-Pacific region. The change is mostly in terms of how the foreign policy is implemented and diplomacy is conducted. Since it came to power in 2011, the USDP government has pursued a foreign policy strategy that delicately balances the strategic interests of major powers in the country, that primarily maintains friendly relations with countries both near and far, and that applies multilateralism with an emphasis on regional cooperation or regional institutions. The foreign policy adjustment under the USDP government is leadership-driven, and it appears that the president is a prime mover and the Tatmadaw is a lead institution.
The government of Myanmar is today publicly committed to building a 'modern developed democratic ... more The government of Myanmar is today publicly committed to building a 'modern developed democratic nation'. It has initiated a number of measures aimed at political and economic liberalization. This article examines the military's perception of the ongoing process of liberalization. It argues that, on the basis of mutual understanding and smooth relations between the government and the military at both individual and institutional levels, the military is likely to continue its support for the political liberalization measures initiated by the President and supported by the National Assembly. However, the military is not yet prepared to tolerate any structural changes that would undermine its national political role, the basic principles it has laid down for national unity, or its institutional autonomy.
Page 1. 3/2002 WILL THE FAILED COUP ATTEMPT DERAIL THE ONGOING NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND POLITI... more Page 1. 3/2002 WILL THE FAILED COUP ATTEMPT DERAIL THE ONGOING NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND POLITICAL TRANSITION IN MYANMAR? Maung Aung Myoe1 March 2002 On 7 March 2002, news came out ...
... Sabrina Yow-chyi Liu Master Mediator Institute. ... A favor is always remembered and one shou... more ... Sabrina Yow-chyi Liu Master Mediator Institute. ... A favor is always remembered and one should repay the kindness in some way, either through a sweet deal or by ... of ethnic Chinese, reciprocity might be expected in the give and take in the negotiation while people tie up issues ...
... held on 3 December 2005, Major General Khin Aung Myint, Director of Public Relations of ... A... more ... held on 3 December 2005, Major General Khin Aung Myint, Director of Public Relations of ... At the present, Myanmar is using the Thai Shin Satellite ... M. Kelly, 1969), p. 141 9 Robert Heine-Geldern, Conceptions of State and Kingship in Southeast Asia, p. 1. 10 Myo Myint, Pattern ...
... 3 Regionalism in Myanmar's Foreign Policy: Past, Present, and Future Maung Aung Myoe ...... more ... 3 Regionalism in Myanmar's Foreign Policy: Past, Present, and Future Maung Aung Myoe ... approach to co-operation based on consultation and dialogue, which constitutes the ASEAN diplomatic norm, was by and large in line with the comfort level of the military regime in ...
... 3 A Historical Overview of Political Transition in Myanmar Since 1988 Maung Aung Myoe ... 9 F... more ... 3 A Historical Overview of Political Transition in Myanmar Since 1988 Maung Aung Myoe ... 9 For example, Captain Si Thu and three staff from the DDSI were caught red-handed and exposed in respect of their counter-intelligence activities on 26 August 1988. ...
... Date, www.nus.ari.edu.sg/pub/wps.htm. For instance, Smith, John, Ethnic Relations in Singapo... more ... Date, www.nus.ari.edu.sg/pub/wps.htm. For instance, Smith, John, Ethnic Relations in Singapore, ARI Working Paper, No. 1, June 2003, www.ari.nus.edu.sg/pub/wps.htm. Asia Research Institute Editorial Committee Geoffrey Wade Stephen Teo ...
... Furthermore, as it appears that the future Commander-in-Chief (Navy), Rear Admiral Soe Thein,... more ... Furthermore, as it appears that the future Commander-in-Chief (Navy), Rear Admiral Soe Thein, and Commander-in-Chief (Air Force), Major ... Even though Major General Myint Swe is being replaced by the present Chief-of-Staff (Air), Brigadier General Myat Hein (DSA-17), there ...
The year 2006 was marked by more entrenched and resilient military rule, which has become increas... more The year 2006 was marked by more entrenched and resilient military rule, which has become increasingly defiant against intense and growing international pressure. The Myanmar government has demonstrated that it plans to remain in power indefinitely and by any means, despite a successful effort by Western powers to place the Myanmar problem on the U.N. Security Council agenda.
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