Russia’s more pronounced presence in Myanmar’s internal affairs since the coup. 32 According to a national security expert, increased Russian friendship with the Myanmar military is seen as a foil to China, and is in India’s interests at this troubled period in Myanmar. Finally, India will continue to be anxious about the impacts that prolonged civil unrest and military force will have on the Rohingya crisis. In addition to the human rights and humanitarian implications, the security implications are immense. There is another important issue that New Delhi will be observing closely. In terms of Internet infrastructure and cybersecurity, Myanmar is said to have received technical assistance from China to build firewalls to block search engines, social media sites and VPNs.33 This once again tips the balance of power in Myanmar in China’s favour. For these reasons, the Indian government’s response has been to express concern about the situation, while arguing for upholding rule of law and democratic processes in Myanmar and asking for the release of detained political leaders. Unlike Western powers, New Delhi has stopped short of condemning the military, nor has it supported the reimposition of sanctions.34 Some political and defence analysts have argued that India’s muted response to the coup is a balanced approach, an attempt to balance its democratic values with long-term strategic interests. On the other hand, the appeasement of the Tatmadaw has angered people in India’s north-eastern states, who have an ethnic affinity to Myanmar. The Indian government will also have to be careful not to anger Myanmar’s masses, losing the popular goodwill it enjoys there.35 It is important to remember that this official response is against the complex background of an ongoing power tussle between the Indian government and tech/social media companies.36 On social media, particularly on Twitter, the reactions have ranged from expressing solidarity towards Burmese citizens to how the Indian government must respond to the crisis in its neighbourhood. There were videos of residents of the North-eastern state of Mizoram (bordering Myanmar) protesting against the military and asking for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar.37 On the geopolitical front, Brahma Chellaney argued on Twitter that the US sanctions against top Myanmar generals, including the commander-in-chief, had led to the coup. 32 33 34 35 36 37 P M Heblikar, “Deciphering Myanmar—A Challenge. StratNews Global”, StratNewsGlobal, 26 July 2021. https://stratnewsglobal.com/neighbours/myanmar/deciphering-myanmar-a-challenge/. “Burmese Expert: China Helping Military Establish Cyber Firewall”, Voice of America, 12 February 2021, https://www.voanews.com/a/east-asia-pacific_burmese-expert-china-helping-military-establish-cyberfirewall/6201972.html. Udai Bhanu Singh, “Post-Coup Myanmar and India’s Response”, IDSA Comment, 21 May 2021, https://idsa.in/idsacomments/post-coup-myanmar-indias-response-ubsingh-210521. Sudha Ramachandran, “India’s Dangerous Myanmar Policy”, The Diplomat, 26 March 2021, https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/indias-dangerous-myanmar-policy/. Anuradha Rao, “When social media, personal freedom and cybersecurity collide: India’s new digital media rules”, South Asia Newsletter, Issue no. 31, (Jan – Jun 2021), p. 12-13, Institute of South Asian Studies, https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ISAS-Newsletter-Jan-to-Jun-2021-V4.pdf. Bikash K Bhattacharya (BikashKJourno), Twitter, 21 March 2021, https://twitter.com/BikashKjourno/ status/1373598717647876098. 9