President Hliang travelled to China (June 15 to 19), signing 18 agreements across trade, infrastructure, security and technology. This should not be read as a further deepening of ties. Myanmar’s engagement with Beijing stems from the international support it gets from Beijing as well as geographic and economic dependence, rather than confidence -- reinforced further by resentment over the unpopular Myitsone Dam (originally designed to export 90 per cent of its power to China) and the Chinese-run rare-earth mining in Kachin State; Myanmar bearing the environmental costs for both, like many other Chinese projects. China’s simultaneous dealings with both the government and ethnic armed organisations deepen the unease