The February events in Myanmar have startled the world. While some countries quickly called the military takeover a coup, and U.S. President Joe Biden imposed sanctions to prevent the generals behind the coup from gaining access to funds in the United States, China has maintained a neutral position. Nonetheless, Myanmar’s unexpected political developments will inevitably introduce challenges and uncertainties into China-Myanmar relations. Geographical proximity, as well as complicated historical, ethnic, political, and economic ties, mean that whoever is in power in Naypyidaw will want to maintain a positive relationship with Beijing.

Yun Sun discusses the February 1 coup, subsequent events, Chinese responses, and the potential impact on Sino-U.S. relations in an interview conducted on March 5, 2021.