Horrific picture on the bbc news from Myanman.The situation seems to be getting worse.I am sorry Wolfman if China is having diplomatic talks with the Myanman goverment,they are not doing any good.
I also noticed China and Russia vetoed any involvment from the UN,say that it is a internal affair.
Monasteries have been raided by troops overnight and monks arrested.It is breaking my heart watching this unfold and helpless to do anything.
I do hope your friends are ok Wolfman.
Petra,
I appreciate your perspective; however most people familiar with the political situation in Myanmar have agreed that pretty much the only reason the government there hasn't yet launched large-scale crackdowns is specifically because of China's diplomatic intervention. Without China's intervention, the gov't in Myanmar would likely have already ended the protests with whatever level of force was necessary.
I agree 100% that China and Russia have blocked resolutions from other countries, and their motivation for this is at least partly selfish -- they have economic interests there that they seek to protect. But then, the U.S. is hardly innocent in this regard, similarly blocking resolutions against countries or policies that are inconvenient (consider their refusal to sign the ban on land mines, which is, in my opinion, reprehensible).
But I'd also argue that it is China's closer relationship with Myanmar that puts them in a position to have more influence in dealing with the current situation.
Also, I'd like to point out that the U.S. gov't has consistently opposed and vetoed any UN measures that impose in any way upon "American sovereignty", yet then turn around and try to use the UN to force similar actions on other countries. I'd believe very strongly that if the U.S. is not willing to have such actions imposed on the U.S., they have no moral ground for trying to impose them on others.
China has been very consistent in this regard -- they uniformly oppose UN actions that are seen to impose upon another country's sovereignty, regardless of whether that country is friend or foe. They much prefer direct diplomatic discussion/negotiation.
Short of outright invasion, sanctions or other such resolutions from the U.N., or from individual countries, will have little or no effect, as I argued above. And, as I also argued above, I would support the opposite policy, a policy of dangling a carrot in front of the Myanmar authorities to let them know that if they show restraint, they could benefit by having some restrictions lifted. Threats of "punitive actions" have proven to have little or no effect whatsoever.
I'm really not trying to paint China as some sort of "saint" here; their motivations are no less selfish than anyone else's. But the tactics/methods that they are using to accomplish those goals, at least in respect to Myanmar, are (IMNSHO) superior to those being employed by Western powers.
