New Delhi: Myanmar has decided to expedite India-backed
infrastructure projects and widen
security ties with
India as it seeks to balance China’s growing presence in the country in the backdrop of Beijing’s active cross-border support for rebel groups and push for early completion of BRI projects.
Myanmar’s all-powerful generals, who have controlled the country for decades, are upset with the Chinese strategy of arming rebel groups, including Islamic radicals. They are upset with China’s pressure on Myanmar to implement BRI projects despite the pandemic, ET has learnt.
China is planning a China-Myanmar-Economic Corridor on the lines of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, to get access to the Bay of Bengal and the eastern part of the Indian Ocean Region. Several other BRI-related projects threaten to push Myanmar into a debt trap.
During Victory Day parade in Russia, commander-in-chief of Myanmar armed forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, called for global cooperation in the fight against terrorism, saying that terror groups exist because of “strong forces”. Analysts said the comment was targeted at China, which the Myanmar suspects of arming rebel groups.