Delhi - Burma's main opposition party – National League for Democracy – says China's recent move in urging the Burmese military regime to allow the early return of United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, is a significant shift in its policy towards Burma.

Nyan Win, spokesperson of the NLD, said China, the ruling junta's closest ally, finally seems to be yielding to the calls of the international community to pressure the generals toward implementing political reforms.

On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a news conference in Beijing that China supports Gambari's efforts on Burma and hopes that both Gambari and the Burmese government can set a date for his return to the country.

"We think that, as China is one of the emerging economic powers of the world, it does not want to openly defy the international community's call anymore," Nyan Win said.

During a meeting with Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister U Maung Myint on Monday, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said China is paying close attention to the situation in Burma and is pushing for democratic reforms.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in a statement released after the meeting, said: "Tang noted that China pays close attention to the situation in Burma and sincerely hopes Burma enjoys political stability, economic development and that the Burmese people live and work in peace and contentment."

"The Chinese side encourages the Burmese government and people to push the domestic political process forward through consultations, and achieve democracy and development at the earliest date possible," the statement added.

Possible reasons for a change in posture

While China, which maintains a close relationship with Burma and is one of the few countries that has leverage with the ruling generals, has voiced its support for the initiative of the United Nations Special Envoy on Burma, it has avoided using pressure on the ruling generals.

Win Min, a Burmese analyst in Thailand, said China's recent calls indicate a significant shift in their policy towards Burma and believes that it could be the result of international pressure or a genuine drive to see a stable Burma.

"China has always wanted a stable Burma, as it shares a long border. Besides, there has been an enormous international campaign urging the Chinese to deliver a clear message to the junta," Win Min said.

"China is concerned of the situation in Burma, and has quietly urged the Burmese junta to reform its economy, though the junta has ignored their suggestions," Win Min added.

While China has been supportive of Gambari's mission in Burma since it started in May 2006, it is significant that China is urging the Burmese junta to again host Gambari soon, when the generals made clear Gambari is unwelcome until mid-April, Win Min said.

The Nigerian diplomat, who visited Burma twice after the junta brutally suppressed protestors in September, told reporters last week that while he has asked to return to Burma this month, the Burmese junta said they prefer him returning in mid-April.

One of the few countries that has leverage on Burma, China been urged by the international community, including Western countries, the United Nations and special interest groups, to pressure the Burmese junta for changes.

The traditional stance

While China has publicly urged the Burmese junta to allow the early return of Gambari and to implement political dialogue with the opposition, it has rejected United States demands to further increase pressure on the Burmese junta to implement reforms.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, on Tuesday, said while China wants to see stability, democracy and development in Burma, it opposes sanctions and unconstructive pressure against the Burmese junta.

Jiang added that instead of sanctions and pressure the international community should objectively view the Burmese situation and provide "constructive assistance".

Jiang's comments followed the United States' call, on Monday, for the international community to step-up pressure against the Burmese generals over its failure to implement political reforms.

Following the bloody crackdown on monk-led protests in September, the United States and European Union have taken the lead in stepping-up economic sanctions against Burma's generals.

However China, which sees Burma as a provider of valuable resources, continues exploring business ventures and strengthening economic links with the Southeast Asian country, including the development of a vast natural gas deposit in the Bay of Bengal.