Chinese autocracy promotion towards Myanmar and Thailand

Abstract

In its autocracy promotion towards Myanmar’s and Thailand’s military regimes, China especially applied incentives but also blackmailing practices. However, China also supported hybrid regimes. Then, China always selected soft and not hard power; military pressure has been indirect. There were strong emulative processes of both Myanmar and Thailand. Chinese pragmatism promoted both options since, if China opposed hybrid regimes, this could cause the defeat of the military and the possible victory of pro-Western and anti-Chinese political actors. In order to avoid this result, Beijing governments adopted a more flexible autocracy promotion, reflecting a real-politik approach to foreign policy, which allowed to preserve Chinese diplomatic interests.