After the coup d'etat in 1988, the military junta, that had seized the power, changed the name of the country from Burma into the historical, Burmese language name Burmese language – the Union of Myanmar. This new name is not acknowledged by most opposition groups, who believe that the regime lacks the legality to engage in any government function, including changing the name of the country. In this article I shall use the old and a new name of this state alternatively.

China's cultural, economical, and political relationships with Southeast Asia have made important pattern of this region. However until the late 19th century, the tributary system dominated Chinese relations with Southeast Asia. In the 20th century, after World War II, when the policy of new postcolonial states was overfilled with the spirit of Bandung Conference, this ancient pattern of mutual relations rapidly changed. In 19th century, after the Second World War, when the policy of new postcolonial states, was overfilled with the spirit of Bandung Conference. Ideas and values like nonalignment, neutrality, mutual respect and equality in political relations made a good background for the developing Chinese relationship with Southeast Asia. Nowadays, this relations is undergoing a significant shift. In the 1990s, China was perceived as a threat to its Southeast Asian neighbors partly due to its conflicting territorial claims over the South China Sea and former support for communist revolts.