India likely to boost ties with Myanmar; closely following outcome of Aung San Suu Kyi’s China tour

NEW DELHI: India is closely following Nobel Peace Prize winning Myanmarese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s maiden visit to China. Experts said if Suu Kyi establishes a closer rapport with the Chinese government, India is likely to strengthen its partnership with Myanmar in the backdrop of chill in China-Myanmar ties over border issues.

China not only hosted Suu Kyi but President Xi Jinping broke protocol to meet her, reports from Beijing said. This marks a U-turn in China’s stand since it had earlier even defended Suu Kyi’s detention by her country’s military rulers. Suu Kyi’s visit to China this week comes days ahead of National Security Adviser Ajit K Doval’s visit to Myanmar, where security partnership and information sharing including further strikes to combat rebels from the Northeast will top the agenda, officials said.

India needs Myanmar’s continued cooperation to combat the insurgents.

While India has no plans to sever ties with Suu Kyi, the government could move to further ties with the current regime at Nay Pyi Taw. Ahead of his trip, the NSA will take cognizance of Suu Kyi’s landmark trip to China, officials said. India’s relations with Suu Kyi cooled off ever since the country India began engaging with Myanmar’s military junta since the mid-1990s with an eye on stabilising its border along the Northeast and having Myanmar as a gateway to Southeast Asia.

According to news portal Irrawady run by Myanmarese exiles based in Thailand, “Beijing’s decision to invite Suu Kyi, during a turbulent time in bilateral relations and in the lead-up to Burma’s general election later this year, was a bold one that is sure to have an impact on the polls.” Myanmar will hold general elections in last quarter of this year.

“This very well may be her message to Beijing: If her party wins, she will be there to protect their economic and strategic interests in Burma, which has spent recent years courting friends and allies in Western capitals. And Beijing’s message to her? Perhaps this is a hint that China has already placed bets on the election,” Irrawady said.