CHINA: BURMA'S UMBRELLA

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

CHINA: BURMA'S UMBRELLA
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 By Julien Moe
10th September 1999

Mingladon Airport in Burma  has been full of noises from the Chinese-made
Air Force Fighters. The Chinese connection  to SPDC has been a conspicuous
international affair during this decade. Since the military government SLORC
renamed SPDC came to power, Office Of Strategic Studies, the sophisticated
intelligence branch of the military regime, has been having  frequent
connections with the Chinese intelligence services. Today China and OSS have
been sharing intelligence data on security issues. The SPDC has been
cautious about their relations with China. When Taiwan talked about
independence and sovereignty, SPDC said that Burma has been  right behind
the One-China policy.

To have a grip on power not recognised by the people is everything common
with these two governments: CCP and SPDC. As Indonesia, a former model of
the SPDC, has been in chaos, SPDC now seems to be enthusiastic about the
Chinese model. As international relations with respect to China are
different from those of Burma, SPDC seems to find themselves in limbo.
Reports  show that China has been transferring technology to Burma.
Interest-free loans have been paid to SPDC. Air Force and intelligence
trainings are ongoing according to recent intelligence reports.

The only difference between China and Burma is that Burma does not care much
about drug trafficking and drug traffickers. China severely punishes drug
traffikcers if caught and convicted. Burma gives a new  haven to drug
traffickers. That is an unequivocal fact that can segregate the two nations'
national interests.