Myanmar’s Northern Borderlands is a series of analytical papers intended to enhance the understanding of international actors regarding the evolving landscape of conflict and peace in this strategically significant region.
This paper offers a historically grounded analysis of China-Myanmar relations, highlighting enduring patterns that have shaped Myanmar’s ties with its most powerful neighbour. From strategic balancing to navigating economic dependence and coercive pressures, successive Myanmar rulers have contended with China’s dominant influence. Understanding these historical dynamics is essential to interpreting current conflicts and political developments—particularly in the north, where powerful armed groups are deeply influenced by China’s borderland priorities. Written by a political analyst from this region, the paper draws attention to critical factors often overlooked in ahistorical accounts.