ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an historical overview of the relationship post-1988 and the removal of Myanmar's long-time strongman Ne Win. Ne Win's Burma Socialist Programme Party was removed in a coup detat by a military junta–the State Peace and Development Council (SLORC)–and human rights violations resulted as democracy protests were forcibly suppressed. The chapter examines the Japan–Myanmar relationship that identifies the key political actors and institutions that underpin bilateral ties, in addition to evaluating the impact of economic official development assistance (ODA), and technical assistance/policy links between the two countries. ODA was ostensibly stopped and relations became strained, although low-level aid such as technical assistance and training never really ended. The United States Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 involved a complicated strategy of embracing Western sanctions at the global level combined with Association of Southeast Asian Nations-engagement-oriented regional integration initiatives.
