Myanmar

Construction workers tearing down a building in Tachliek, Myanmar

The infrastructure route in Myanmar—labeled the “China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC)”—promises to connect the Indian Ocean oil trade to China’s Yunnan Province and pay dividends for China by addressing internal development priorities, the strategic vulnerabilities of China’s oil supply, and its competition with India.

At the same time, China has exerted significant influence over many countries by lending them money that they are unable to repay. Sri Lanka's economy has collapsed as one example, and Myanmar is more and more under the control of China.

Myanmar exports approximately 70% of its agricultural products to China, with corn being one of the most widely exported crops.  Due to issues with the CMEC, the route to China for delivering corn is routed through the town of Tachilek, and this town is now becoming an important area for Myanmar.