China to roll out red carpet for Myanmar’s pariah leader - The Australian

China's consolidation of Myanmar as a strategic client strengthens Beijing's encirclement of the Indo-Pacific and reduces allied influence over a critical gateway state controlling the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal approaches. This deepens China's strategic decoupling from Western influence in Southeast Asia and narrows Australia's policy space in the Northern Arc, while emboldening Beijing's ability to project power and logistics through the region.