China has significant historic, political, and economic ties to Myanmar, while India struggles to catch up. Burma was the first non-communist country to recognize the People's Republic of China in 1949.
China has been a staunch supporter of the current military junta, providing arms and diplomatic support in the United Nations, as well as aid for infrastructure and projects to increase cross-border commerce. Moreover, northern Myanmar has a large ethnic-Chinese population, creating cultural ties that facilitate trade, both legitimate and illicit, between the two countries. China considers Myanmar be securely within its sphere of influence and sees India's attempts to increase its presence as a direct challenge.
