A Study on China-Myanmar Complex Interdependence Based on Night-time Light

The adjacent geographical proximity between China and Myanmar has maintained close geopolitical interactions and exchanges. In the context of Myanmar's democratic reforms and integration into regional development, the China-Myanmar relationship is influenced by a multitude of complex factors. The utilization of data derived from an extended period of night-time light allows for the observation of a shift in the bilateral economic center of gravity between China and Myanmar from a macro perspective: The economic centers of gravity of both countries moved toward each other prior to 2011. Subsequently, Myanmar shifted unilaterally toward China, while Yunnan's economic center of gravity was drawn toward China's economic center in the northeast. Based on the reality of the asymmetric relationship between China and Myanmar, this article proposes three hypotheses of China-Myanmar interdependence in the complex interdependence theory and provides a qualitative analysis of the major years in which the economic center of gravity has changed significantly. We find that the relationship between China and Myanmar has undergone a transformation from a positive interdependence to a negative interdependence. Given that this negative interdependence has not effectively facilitated Myanmar's economic and social advancement, Myanmar has consistently reoriented its engagement with China in light of this interdependence.