A Foreign Ministry spokesperson has expressed hope that "Myanmar can work with China to ensure peace and tranquillity in the two countries' border areas." However, it is not entirely clear whether the Myanmar government, given the scale of the internal divisions in the country, will be able to deliver the desired result. And so, in a further development of China's multinational development strategy, the Chinese government is taking steps towards helping their southwestern neighbor resolve its internal difficulties.

In an unusual but bold step, China invited one of Myanmar's most significant opposition figures, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to visit China. It is clear from this move that China considers that developments within Myanmar have necessitated some new thinking in place of old simplistic certainties about China-Myanmar relations. The Global Times has expressed the belief that Aung San Suu Kyi will become a good friend to China, and Xinhua stated in an official commentary that it is important that she should develop "a very thorough understanding of the special bond between the two countries." China clearly hopes that Suu Kyi will be able to make a serious contribution towards ensuring peace along the border, of a type which has not yet been forthcoming from the present government of Myanmar.

This does not represent any active intention to interfere in the internal affairs of a neighboring state. But it does recognize that the internal peace and order of one's neighbors is a legitimate concern, both in order to protect one's own citizens and to ensure the preconditions for major multilateral development initiatives remaining in place. In this context all potential forces for stability must be included in discussions, including non-governmental figures where governments are unable or unwilling to cooperate. There is also a legitimate role for China's armed forces in deterring aggression from both other states and non-state entities, as displayed in the current exercises in Yunnan.

The sheer scale of China's program of dynamic development for the East Asia region is becoming apparent. Peace and good order are not only desirable in themselves; they are vital as a necessary condition for comprehensive development. And China, in taking the lead in this comprehensive development program, is assuming responsibility for co-ordinating a constructive approach to the underlying problems threatening the realization of the overall concept. This inevitably means addressing every potential weak link in the chain, which certainly includes Myanmar.

The writer is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.ccgp-fushun.com/opinion/timcollard.htm

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