Geopolitical Vulnerability from China's High-Quality Development to Myanmar’s Infrastructure Construction

Abstract

In what way are the spatial effects of China’s high-quality development oriented to economic transformation related to geopolitical vulnerability that triggered by Myanmar’s infrastructure construction? Our article reflects this question by tracing the dynamic process of Chinese-backed infrastructure projects in Myanmar in perspectives of Sino-Myanmar strategic context and geopolitical actors-events participated in the projects. We argue that geopolitical vulnerability in Myanmar’s context, no matter from its geographical location, international relations, internal affairs fluctuation, economic foundation, or social contradictions, leads to Myanmar's lack of the ability to obtain development dividends from Chinese-backed infrastructure projects. It is the lack of this ability, reflected in the dynamic process of project practice, that triggers a series of metabolic rifts.