ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Myanmar's relations with its regional neighbours: Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states. It demonstrates the Japanese state enthusiastically re-engaged Myanmar as a major provider of Official Development Assistance. On the back of the political transition, Myanmar's ties with other ASEAN members have also expanded and improved. Japan's wartime involvement in colonial Burma looks ambivalent, and not entirely dissimilar to other Southeast Asian countries. Japan's government was enthusiastic about the reforms undertaken by the U Thein Sein government. Tokyo encouraged these reforms through a combination of high-level diplomacy, economic assistance and other targeted support to develop Myanmar's economic and social capital. Following President Thein Sein's political and economic reforms, the Japanese government re-engaged Myanmar with much verve and made significant use of the economic and financial means at its disposal to propel Myanmar's economic development and to boost livelihoods in particular.
