Aung Aung

Research Departments・Position
Political and Economic Coexistence
Associate Professor
Contact
aung.aung.45a@st.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Aung Aung

The International Politics of Rakhine Crisis in Myanmar: China, Japan, and United States

I am writing about the Rakhine Crisis in Myanmar while I am at the CSEAS.
In my paper, the Rakhine Crisis refers to the Rohingya Crisis, and I will examine China, Japan and the U.S. role in the crisis with their involvements, their interests and their concerns. I will also find out how they view each other and how they strive to influence or persuade Myanmar. Since 2011, Myanmar has been under democratic reforms, and since then, the relationship between Myanmar and the West were improved. Myanmar viewed the U.S. as a good friend of Myanmar since the U.S. straightly supported Myanmar’s democracy movement in the past, but due to its stance on the Rohingya Crisis, the relations between the U.S and Myanmar is getting tense. Myanmar has viewed that the U.S. and the West extremely focus on human rights and international liberal interests. On the other hands, since 2011, Myanmar negatively viewed China because China unilaterally supported previous Myanmar’s military junta. However, China appeared as a good friend of Myanmar in the Rohingya Crisis, and the relations between China and Myanmar is getting close. Myanmar has viewed that China extremely focus on its security and national interests. Amid of Americanophobia and Sinophobia, Myanmar looks for more friends who understand Myanmar on this Rohingya issue, and Myanmar eyes Japan as old and good friend of Myanmar. Can Japan play more than the U.S. and China? Can Japan be a balance maker in Myanmar’s Rakhine State between the U.S. and China? My research will look into these questions.