The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aims to build a China-centric transcontinental infrastructure network across Asia, Europe, Africa and beyond. The China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) is a crucial strategic component of the initiative. This shortcut to the Indian Ocean seeks to improve China’s energy security and facilitate trade.-Confronting Beijing: Social resistance to the Belt and Road in Myanmar illustrates how Myanmar was able to exploit China’s Belt and Road ambitions to achieve its desired outcomes during the country’s political liberalization in the 2010s. Ignoring the asymmetric relationship between the two countries, the Myitkyina hydroelectric dam was suspended, the Letpadaung copper mine contract was renegotiated, and the Kyaukpyu deep-sea port project was scaled back.-Instead of pressuring Myanmar to adhere to signed agreements, China has offered concessions to the country. Contrary to a common narrative that U.S.-Myanmar rapprochement has disrupted the Belt and Road Initiative in Myanmar, Challenging Beijing argues that the emergence of new foreign policy actors—citizens—has made it more costly for Naypyidaw to continue the project during the political liberalization of the 2010s.-Naypyidaw has come under pressure to renegotiate terms with Beijing in the wake of social protests in the country. Challenging Beijing advances our understanding of China-Myanmar relations on the Belt and Road Initiative, and shows how citizens can change the course of events on the Belt and Road Initiative despite repressive political environments and unbalanced bargaining structures.-In post-coup Myanmar, Naypyidaw’s policy choices have not been swayed by public opinion or protests. However, armed resistance has created new domestic constraints on the implementation of the CMEC. It is clear that bilateral economic agreements without citizen approval are fraught with legitimacy and instability problems.

Australia, Australia

2025-05-14