The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is famous throughout the world for taking developing and underdeveloped nations for a ride and then later arm-twists them into making diplomatic and economic concessions and, in the end, leaves the host nation completely bankrupt and trapped in a never-ending quicksand of debt trap.
Such is the case with the Southeast Asian Nation of Myanmar. The Draconian Chinese government has taken full advantage of the military coup in the country and is eyeing the nation’s rich natural resources.
To further aggravate the situation, the military rulers bartered natural resources such as timber, gas, jade and copper with the Chinese authorities. In response, China has created a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), massive gas fields, and land to develop Kyaukphyu Port.
To assert economic and military domination in the Indian Ocean, China is utilising its flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to a much deeper extent. The port of Kyaukphyu will provide China access to the Indian and Pacific Oceans at the same time.
The CMEC (China-Myanmar-Economic Corridor) has also held Myanmar in a vice-like grip. Under the project, a transport corridor comprising roads, railroads and special economic zones from Kunming in China’s Yunnan province to Myanmar’s west coast.China has recently established a shipping route which links the new Beibu Gulf Port in Guangxi Province in the South China Sea to Yangon (Rangoon).
Along with this, China is also stressing on development of an industrial zone on the border of Shan State and Kachin state. This route stands vital as the course is the only way to 80 per cent of oil and gas imports in the country and can play a critical role in developing the Chinese Navy (PLAN) in the area.
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