Sorry if this seems a little naive, but what kind of business relations do Thailand and the Junta in Myanmar have ? I often wonder how Myanmar keeps afloat. And how about their relations with North Korea and China ? What does Myanmar give them ? Opium ? And in return for what ?

I seem to recall that there is a large deposit of jadeite in Myanmar...and logging.

Edited January 8, 201016 yr by Latindancer

More than 70% of Thailand's electricity is generated by natural gas, much of that natural gas is imported from Burma. There are hydroelectric projects in the works as well. Additionally logging interests and border trade.

Natural Gas lubricates the relationship between these two countries. There is a Nat Gas pipeline between Myanmar and Thailand that runs through Rachaburi province. The NG is used for electricity generation.

cheap labour from Burma

So the junta get most of their money from this gas ?

What are the dynamics of their relationship with China ?

Edited January 8, 201016 yr by Latindancer

I am not sure why we should criticize the Thai Myanmar relationship since the develop countries (US, UK, etc.) have relationship with counties that are much worse than Myanmar and they deal with them because of their interest as Thailand has with Myanmar.

I am not sure why we should criticize the Thai Myanmar relationship since the develop countries (US, UK, etc.) have relationship with counties that are much worse than Myanmar and they deal with them because of their interest as Thailand has with Myanmar.

Saudi Arabia for example......

The Junta, it seems has their hands on everything - the Myanmar airlines, immigrations, hotels, tourism, casinos, cross border trade. Gems and other natural resources, everything. Income from trade with Thailand - be it natural gas, etc. is probably just a small proportion. Sorry I cannot cite any sources of information to back this up. This is just my personal opinion.

Myanmar might be a pariah state shunned by Western countries. But for Thailand, it is still a neighbor. Thailand has to make the most out of the situation. This might not be to the liking of western countries (US and UK in particular). But they are there and Thailand is here and it cannot tell Myanmar to move away.

So the junta get most of their money from this gas ?

What are the dynamics of their relationship with China ?