West shuns Myanmar while Asian countries compete for trade deals

Western calls for human rights in Myanmar  fall on deaf ears while Asian money talks. As Western countries continue to impose trade sanctions on Myanmar and press for the release of Nobel prize winning Aung Sun Suu Kyi, Asian countries have jumped in to trade with the military junta. According to the Wall Street Journal, over the last five years trade with China has more than doubled, and other Asian countries including India, Thailand and Singapore are in competition for Myanmar’s resources. Business is good and the profits are high, as South Korean company Daewoo recently testified to when it forecast a US $10 billion profit over 25 years with a proposed 1100 km natural gas pipeline  to be built from Myanmar to southwest China, reports The Irrawaddy. The main buyers of this gas will be state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation. Other countries in the bid included South Korea, India, Thailand and Japan. China continues to press for closer economic ties with the military junta, echoed in Chinese media last week during Burmese Vice Senior General Maung Aye’s visit to China and talks with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping.

Myanmar second top leader Maung Aye leaves on official visit to China, Xinhua News

Skirting Western sanctions, Myanmar prospers, The Wall Street Journal

Weekly business roundup, The Irrawaddy