Abstract
India's relations with Myanmar was generally cordial and close prior to 1960s. Myanmar Prime Minister U Nu believed it as 'firm Indo-Burmese friendship'. This excellent bilateral relationship between the two countries was generated by political and economic cooperation, plus good personal friendship between U Nu and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Although there were several hiccups along with the relationship of the two countries in the 1960s and 1970s, the bilateral relations were still good. However, after the failed 1988 major demonstration by the Burmese pro-democracy movement against the military rule, the bilateral relations between India and Myanmar was disrupted. India started to criticise strongly the new Burma's military junta - the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). India offered shelters for anti-SLORC dissidents and pro-democracy activists. India criticised strongly Myanmar's poor human rights record and advocated for Myanmar's return to democracy. India gave permission for Myanmar's opposition - the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) to open its office in New Delhi in 1992. During this time, it is clear that India's foreign policy towards Myanmar was to champion democratic ideals, urging and pushing Myanmar to return to democracy. Myanmar saw this as interference in its domestic affairs, but Myanmar lacked a trump card in forcing India to reconsider its stance, prompting Myanmar to turn to China for support. By 1993, India shifted its stances towards Myanmar from advocating democratic ideals to a more realistic policy based on namely the China factor, the economic and strategic interests, and Myanmar's image and international legitimacy, and India's ambition in Southeast Asia.
Highlights
India and Myanmar are neighbours who share a land border for more than 1,600 kilometers, and Myanmar is the second largest neighbor of India
There exists a situation where Buddhists in Myanmar make religious pilgrimage to India. This religious-cultural exchange increases in the form of tourism to cities and places related to Buddhism in India, such as Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Sanchi.[2]
The Chinese military presence in Myanmar alarmed India when Myanmar armed forces operated electronic surveillance with equipment acquired from China and the operation of this activity is done with the help of personnel from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA)
Summary
India and Myanmar are neighbours who share a land border for more than 1,600 kilometers, and Myanmar is the second largest neighbor of India. This turnaround policy is due to five major factors, namely the China factor, India’s economic and strategic interests, India’s security problems in its Northeast region bordering Myanmar, Myanmar’s growing image and international legitimacy, and India’s ambition in Southeast Asia During this period of time, it was clear that India supported democratic ideals by becoming a staunch supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi. It was clear that the Indian government under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi at that time became the earliest Myanmar’s neighbor to openly criticize the harsh policy of Myanmar military junta against the Burmese pro-democracy supporters after the 1988 demonstration. Moralistic politics and idealism became the nucleus in India-Myanmar bilateral relations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
