China Tests Buddha-Tooth Diplomacy in Myanmar

Reuters

People parade with a rare white elephant and a vehicle carrying a sacred Buddha tooth relic from China in Yangon, Myanmar on Nov. 22.

When China wants another country to feel all warm and fuzzy, it sends a panda. But Myanmar gets something special: A sacred Buddha tooth.
The Chinese relic, reputed to be a tooth of the Buddha, arrived in Myanmar earlier this month for its fourth tour of the country since the 1950s, and it’s drawing big crowds wherever it goes. On Tuesday, the tooth was conveyed through parts of the capital city of Naypyitaw with a palanquin and a rare white elephant, as well as a decorated float and drum troupes, before departing for Yangon, Myanmar’s main commercial city, for another round of viewing. Large groups of pilgrims turned out to pay obeisance as the tooth made its rounds.
The hoopla comes at an opportune time for leaders who want to preserve goodwill between the two countries. Relations between the two neighbors hit rock bottom in recent months, after Myanmar decided to suspend construction of a $3.6 billion China-backed hydroelectric dam in September, in an unexpected snub of the giant power to Myanmar’s northeast.
Since then, both sides have scrambled to do damage control, assuring the outside world that all is well. Myanmar needs Chinese investment to help mitigate the impact of Western economic sanctions imposed since the late 1990s because of its poor human rights record, while China is eager to develop more of Myanmar’s vast natural resources. Both countries have insisted the relationship remains strong – but few analysts believe them.
Cue the Buddha tooth. According to Chinese accounts of the tour published by Xinhua, it arrived in Naypyitaw in a “special plane” on Nov. 6 and was met by about 2,000 pilgrims, who celebrated a grand ceremony before sending it off to the Uppatasanti Pagoda that towers over the city.
The temporary gift of the tooth – expected to last 48 days – “represents not only a major event of the Buddhist believers but also a fine story of China-Myanmar friendship,” Xinhua reported. It was expected to play an important part in “enhancing the understanding and mutual trust between the two peoples,” it said. The tooth moved on to Yangon Tuesday after a consecration ceremony attended by Myanmar President Thein Sein and Chinese dignitaries, according to the official New Light of Myanmar, and is scheduled to move on to Mandalay next.
The tooth clearly is popular in Myanmar. During a visit by a Wall Street Journal reporter to Naypitaw Nov. 15, giant crowds were mounting the steps of the massive Uppatasanti Pagoda, belying Naypyitaw’s reputation as something of a ghost town. The New Light of Myanmar carried repeated updates on the turnout, and on the sizable donations left behind by pilgrims in honor of the sacred relic.
Even Myanmar’s one-time paramount leader, former strongman Than Shwe, made a rare brief appearance at the Naypyitaw pagoda to pay homage, according to witnesses quoted in The Irrawaddy, a closely-watched exile news publication. “He just appeared in broad daylight,” one of the witnesses said.
It’s unclear, though, if China will get anything in return for its generosity. Myanmar is currently moving to boost its relations with the U.S., a potential rival for Chinese influence in the country, and is expecting a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton early next month – the first trip by a U.S. secretary of state in more than 50 years.
That said, U.S. officials have made clear they don’t intend to grant Myanmar’s main wish – an easing of sanctions – just yet, despite a series of recent reforms in the country that have drawn measured praise from the West. All that means Ms. Clinton may have to do some creative planning if she plans to top the Buddha tooth.

By Patrick Barta