Perceptions of China–Myanmar Economic Relations

Photo-AFP

“Myanmar’s Key Stakeholders and their Perceptions of Sino-Myanmar Relations – A Survey (2024),” was published in August, 2025, as a translation of the original Burmese version published in June, 2025. This survey is a part of research conducted by the ISP-Myanmar’s China Studies. ISP-Myanmar has been conducting this annual survey since 2022, making the 2024 survey the third iteration.

Question–47

To what extent do China’s economic investments benefit the general public in Myanmar?

For survey question No. 47,respondents were asked to rate the benefits of China’s economic investments for Myanmar’s people using a four-point scale, ranging from 1. Not beneficial at all to 4. Very beneficial.

Regarding this question, views among key stakeholder respondents were divided, 51 percent viewed China’s economic investments as beneficial, while 47 percent indicated that they were not beneficial. Compared to the 2022 and 2023 surveys, the proportion of respondents selecting “not beneficial at all” has increased annually.

Analysis of the Survey Results

A large majority of the respondents from the business community (81 percent), political society (69 percent), and PDFs/LDFs (56 percent) viewed Chinese investments as beneficial to the general public in Myanmar. In contrast, the majority of respondents from CSOs (61 percent), and EAOs (53 percent) considered them not beneficial. Respondents from the prominent individuals group were split with 49 percent viewing Chinese investment as not beneficial to the public, and 48 percent seeing it as beneficial.

Unless otherwise stated, responses of “Not beneficial at all” and “Not beneficial” were grouped under “Not beneficial,” while “Beneficial” and “Very beneficial” were grouped under “Beneficial,” for the purpose of analysis.

Question–48

What is your view on China being Myanmar’s primary economic partner?

For survey question No. 48, respondents were asked about their perception of China being Myanmar’s largest economic partner, choosing between two options: 1. Concerning or 2. Welcoming.

Among respondents, 68 percent viewed China being Myanmar’s largest economic partner as concerning, while 26 percent viewed it as welcoming. Compared to previous surveys, the proportion of respondents who held a concerned view has increased year after year.

Analysis of the Survey Results

Myanmar’s key stakeholders predominantly found China being Myanmar’s largest economic partner as concerning. CSOs (83 percent) expressed the highest level of concern, followed by EAOs (80 percent), prominent individuals (65 percent), PDFs/LDFs (63 percent), and the political society group (56 percent). However, the business community (62 percent) viewed it as welcoming.

Question–49

When do you expect economic relations between Myanmar and China to improve?

For survey question No. 49, respondents were asked to indicate when they expect improvements in China–Myanmar economic relations by selecting one option from a list of time periods.

Among respondents, 35 percent, the highest proportion, believed that economic relations between Myanmar and China could improve after three years, beyond 2027. Conversely, 34 percent anticipated no improvement at all.

Analysis of the Survey Results

Myanmar’s key stakeholders expressed varied expectations for improvements in China–Myanmar economic relations. The political society group (63 percent), PDFs/LDFs (44 percent), prominent individuals (39 percent), business community (36 percent), and EAOs (33 percent) indicated improvements are likely after three years. In contrast, CSOs (48 percent), others from the prominent individuals group (35 percent), and EAOs (33 percent) saw no prospect for improvement.

Questions–50 and 51

What has the impact of post-coup armed conflicts been on Chinese investment and trade in Myanmar?

For survey questions No. 50 to 51, respondents were asked to assess the impact of armed conflicts following the 2021 coup on Chinese investment and trade in Myanmar, using a four-point scale ranging from 1. No negative impact at all to 4. Very high negative impact. These questions were newly introduced in this year’s survey.

Overwhelmingly, 92 percent viewed that the post-coup armed conflicts negatively impacted Chinese investment in Myanmar, while only six percent believed there was no negative impact on Chinese investment. Similarly, 97 percent perceived that the armed conflicts have had a negative impact on Myanmar-China trade, while two percent viewed that there was no negative impact.

Analysis of the Survey Results

Myanmar’s key stakeholders unanimously agreed that post-coup armed conflicts have negatively impacted Chinese investment in Myanmar. Notably, all respondents from the business community and PDFs/LDFs (100 percent) expressed complete agreement, followed by prominent individuals (97 percent), EAOs (94 percent), and the political society group and CSOs (88 percent each). Similarly, all respondents from the business community, EAOs, PDFs/LDFs, and prominent individuals (100 percent) believed that post-coup armed conflicts have negatively affected Myanmar-China trade. This view was shared by the political society group (94 percent) and CSOs (93 percent). A notable distinction is that, only 13 percent of CSOs, seven percent of EAOs and three percent of prominent individual respondents viewed no negative impact, with only one percent of the CSOs respondents choosing “no negative impact at all.”

Unless otherwise stated, responses of “Very high negative impact” and “Negative impact to some extent” were grouped under “Negative impact,” while “No negative impact” and “No negative impact at all” were grouped under “No negative impact,” for the purpose of analysis.

Question–52

How do you think China is most likely to respond to the impact of armed conflict on its interests in Myanmar?

For survey question No. 52, respondents were asked to select one option regarding China’s potential response to armed conflicts affecting its projects in Myanmar, with options including pressure on all groups, alignment with the SAC, or engagement with resistance forces.

Armed conflict in Myanmar has increasingly jeopardized Chinese projects, leading to attacks, seizures, and destruction. Fifty-nine percent of respondents believed China is likely to pressure all sides to find a conflict resolution in order to safeguard its investments. A further 17 percent anticipated China would throw its support behind the State Administration Council (SAC), while 12 percent expected it to prioritise engagement with resistance forces.

Analysis of the Survey Results

Across all groups, the largest proportion of respondents believed that China would pressure all parties to resolve any conflicts. This view was held by 77 percent of prominent individuals, 67 percent of EAOs, 55 percent of CSOs, 50 percent of the political society group, and 45 percent of the business community group. Meanwhile, the view that China would prioritize engagement with resistance forces was selected by 25 percent of PDFs/LDFs and 20 percent of EAOs.

Question–53

If China were to make new investments in Myanmar during the current crisis, what is your view?

For survey question No. 53, respondents were asked whether they agree or disagree if China were to make new investments in Myanmar during the current crisis, using a four-point scale ranging from 1. Totally disagree to 4. Totally agree.

The majority of respondents, 73 percent, expressed disagreement (represented by the responses “totally disagree” and “disagree”) with China making new investments in Myanmar during the current crisis. In contrast, agreement (represented by the responses “totally agree” and “agree”) accounted for 23 percent.

Analysis of the Survey Results

The majority of Myanmar’s key stakeholders—across all groups except the business community—expressed strong opposition to new Chinese investments amid the ongoing crisis. Civil society organizations (88 percent), PDFs/LDFs (82 percent), prominent individuals(74 percent), EAOs (67 percent), and members of the political society group (57 percent) all indicated disagreement. In contrast, 55 percent of the business community supported the idea of new Chinese investments.

Unless otherwise stated, responses of “Totally disagree” and “Disagree” were grouped under “Disagree,” while “Agree” and “Totally agree” were grouped under “Agree,” for the purpose of analysis.