No.18 - 01/2006
26 January 2006

Politics

Burma fast becoming China's 24th province

Military-ruled Burma is well on the way to becoming a Chinese dependency, according to a Burmese business circle in Rangoon.

Since last year, Chinese engineers have been busy constructing the Loije-Bhamo motor road. It is now half-way between Loije on the border and Bhamo, where the Taping meets the Irrawaddy. Another under construction is the Tengchong-Myikyina road.

According to the sources, Chinese business firms in Rangoon have been purchasing government buildings being vacated by the state employees who are moving to the new capital in Pyinmana, 244 miles away in the north. "They are also planning to lease the Rangoon port on a long term basis," said a businessman who travels between Rangoon and Muse. "And if everything goes according to plan, future Rangoon will not be unlike Hongkong under British rule before 1997."

"Mandalay for ten years has been known as a Chinese city," chipped in another. "Rangoon will be the second. From Myitkyina down to Rangoon, the whole Irrawaddy basin will be practically under Chinese sway."

At least part of the military, according to the businessmen, is also concerned about the growing influence of the Chinese. "For years, we've been told of Thailand being the 51st state of the US," an officer was quoted as saying. "Now it appears we are on the way to becoming China's 24th province."

To prove their point, the entrepreneurs drew attention to the latest event that had dealt a major blow to India which lost out in its bid to win a sales contract of 6.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in Burma's waters to Petro China on 7 December.