China denounced sanctions against Burma on August 20th., just days before tough new US sanctions come into force. The stance was taken by State Councilor Tang Jaixuan at a meeting with Deputy Senior General Maung Aye, the junta's visiting number-two leader.
Dr. Aye Chan, professor of Southeast Asia History and Culture, Kanda University, Chiba (Japan) said he was not surprised by China's position.
In reality China has been enormously embarrassed by what the generals are doing in Burma, but on the other hand they want good long-term relation with their southern neighbor, said Dr. Thomas Manton, who was born in Burma and has visited China many times.
China has been moving ever steadily to draw Burma into its network and sees an opportunity to dominate politically and economically by giving nominal support at a time when the rest of the world condemns to the junta, said Professor Josef Silverstein, visiting lecturer in Southeast Asian studies at Princton University and Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University.