Эволюция политики Мьянмы в отношении Китая (1988-2020 гг.)Evolution of Myanmar’s Policy Towards China (1988-2020)

The increasing role of China and the growing tension in its struggle with the US for influence in Southeast Asia have placed China-Myanmar relations at the center of political interests in both the Eastern and Western political worlds. Relations with China were of paramount importance for Myanmar. China had a huge political influence on the processes taking place in the country, and was Myanmar's leading trading partner. Myanmar's dependence on China has become the reason that Myanmar has traditionally been viewed as a subordinate actor in relations between the two countries, dependent on China's geopolitical interests. However, these relations were also conditioned by Myanmar's policy towards China, which was transformed depending on the political regime in the country, on the position taken by the political elites in relations with China. During the democratic transition in Myanmar in 2011, the government of President Thein Sein intensified relations with the United States and European countries. The growth of Myanmar's contacts with Russia and India, as well as with Western countries since 2015, also makes imperative the study of Myanmar's policy evolution towards China and the identification of problem areas in their relations, which may affect the future political and economic situation of Myanmar. Particular attention in the dissertation is paid to the political agenda of the Myanmar government at every stage of relations, military and economic cooperation with China, as well as the reaction of Myanmar society to the growing economic expansion of China in the country during the period of 1988-2020, from the coming to power of the Tatmadaw government in 1988 to the victory of the National League for Democracy in the November 2020 general elections, whose rule was interrupted by the February 2021 military coup.