[which]

Well in all fairness to China/India, they might prefer to work with a legitimate government, but the legitimate government of Myanmar (when it existed) has always been completely dysfunctional. It also has never really exercised any control of the borderlands, which are where rebel groups like those in Manipur often congregate. Even prior to the development of the scam industry, out of work Chinese in provinces like Yunnan would often seek opportunity in the more well run EAO quasi-states. There are well-maintained paved roads in Pangkham, which can't be said for much of the country.

[alephnerd]

> the legitimate government of Myanmar (when it existed) has always been completely dysfunctiona

No argument there. Those guys are horrible. They make Mao, Phibunsongkhram, and Indira Gandhi look like saints.

> It also has never really exercised any control of the borderlands, which are where rebel groups like those in Manipur often congregate

No argument there, despite half my family being veterans of the Dogra Regiment (IYKYK)

> Even prior to the development of the scam industry, out of work Chinese in provinces like Yunnan would often seek opportunity in the more well run EAO quasi-states

Because there was an "anti-corruption crackdown" that in Yunnan lead to criminal gangs (especially in the prostitution and drug space) being kicked out in 2012-15 to Myanmar. In reality, a lot of those guys didn't pay the right people off, so they left for ASEAN.

> There are well-maintained paved roads in Pangkham, which can't be said for much of the country.

100% True. And I don't blame local councils for supporting Chinese investment there.

But it's something even a local village councils could organize if the central government existed.

This is why China, Thailand, and India exert power in the hinterlands of Myanmar.

Myanmar has the right mix of human capital and low cost, but a horrible government meant it's outside countries using their worse people to access that capital (gangs)