A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread devastation. Roads and bridges were destroyed, buildings collapsed, and the tremor resulted in significant loss of life and injuries.
In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, Taiwan swiftly mobilized a rescue team. The National Fire Agency prepared 120 personnel, along with 15 tonnes of essential equipment. Burmese and overseas Burmese expressed their appreciation for Taiwan’s prompt response to the crisis.
However, an announcement on Sunday left the nation shocked. Myanmar’s junta-led government reportedly denied several foreign rescue teams entry, including those from Taiwan. Rescue teams from Japan, Turkey and other nations also faced delays in receiving approval to enter Myanmar. The delay in allowing in aid endangers the lives of those affected by the earthquake, and the junta’s perceived prioritization of politics over humanitarian concerns has caused widespread disappointment among the populace.
Within Myanmar, a significant portion of the population, especially young people, has a clear understanding of Taiwan’s distinct identity. The terms “mainland China” and “Taiwan” are widely recognized as separate entities.
Such awareness derives is derived in part from Beijing’s consistent support for successive military juntas since the early 1990s. That support has allowed China to exert considerable influence over Myanmar’s markets, trade and natural resource management, generating substantial profits. It has also led to growing negative sentiment toward Beijing among many Burmese.
The junta government’s denial of entry for Taiwan’s rescue team has triggered expressions of regret from the public. It also strengthened an understanding of the junta’s political motivations, with many citizens questioning whether the Taiwanese were denied entry to appease Beijing.
Myanmar in December 1949 severed official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, then led by Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), following a request from Mao Zedong (毛澤東) through then-Chinese premier Zhou Enlai (周恩來). The following year, Myanmar established formal diplomatic relations with the China.
Recent events have prompted renewed debate regarding the government’s “one China policy.” Questions are being raised about whether successive Burmese governments, including the democratically elected administration from 2015 to 2021, have ever sought the public’s opinion on such a crucial policy. The governments have never adequately addressed public concerns about Myanmar’s relationships with China and Taiwan.
Such questioning does not necessarily advocate for escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait; rather, it asserts Myanmar’s right to determine its own diplomatic relationships, with the decisionmaking power residing in a government that genuinely represents the will of the people.
Myanmar has been under military rule since the coup in February 2021, when Burmese army general Min Aung Hlaing seized power and detained democratically elected civilian leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
It is plausible that a post-junta Myanmar could bring stronger relations and ties with Taipei.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that establishing friendly relations with Taiwan does not necessitate altering a country’s existing diplomatic ties. Therefore, neither Myanmar nor any other nation is compelled to make a binary choice between Beijing and Taipei. However, in Myanmar’s case, bolstering resilience against potential pressure from China would be essential.
People-to-people connections are arguably more significant than government-to-government relations. Taiwan has long been perceived as a friendly nation by Burmese, and an increasing number of young Burmese are choosing Taiwan as a destination for study and work. That trend reflects the promising and mutually accommodating relationship between Taiwan and Myanmar.
Hwa Teng is a Burmese student studying Mandarin at National Kaohsiung Normal University.
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