As the crisis in Myanmar continues to simmer, the world's eyes are focused more on Beijing than on any other foreign capital. That is not just because of China's close economic and political ties, but because it has acted as Myanmar's protector, blocking UN Security Council action against that country's military regime. Last week, Beijing again opposed action by the Security Council despite the junta's violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations led by Myanmar's Buddhist monks. The crackdown has led to an unknown number of civilian deaths.
It is not easy to budge Beijing from its official position of non-interference in another country's internal affairs. Unofficially, however, there are signs that China is able and willing to use its influence behind the scenes. One example was its success in persuading the Myanmese junta to receive a special UN envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, at the weekend.
Beijing has recently eased its policy of non-intervention to some extent. It was willing for UN sanctions to be imposed on North Korea after that country's missile and nuclear tests last year. Similarly, it has put subtle pressure on Sudan over the crisis in the Darfur region, and was able to convince the nation to accept UN peacekeeping troops.
Where Myanmar is concerned, Beijing is undoubtedly in a position to apply leverage; it should understand that it is in its own best interest to do so. After all, the last thing Beijing wants is to be seen as the patron of a brutal country where peace-loving monks are arrested, beaten and killed. With the Olympics coming up next summer, Beijing is anxious to avoid an image as a protector of the world's tyrants. This is, therefore, an opportunity for China to show the world that it is a responsible stakeholder, and it should take the utmost advantage of this opportunity.
The current crisis in Myanmar began on August 15, when fuel price increases sparked a wave of public dissent. On September 13, the country's strongman, Senior General Than Shwe - chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council - sent a special envoy, Foreign Minister Nyan Win, to Beijing to update China on the latest situation. State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan told the envoy that he hoped domestic stability would return soon. He added, significantly, that Myanmar should 'vigorously promote national reconciliation' and 'unswervingly advance the process of democratisation' suited to its realities.
Calling for national reconciliation would seem to mean that the military government should conduct talks with the National League for Democracy and its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the past 18 years.
