The EU and Myanmar: obsessed with ‘security’ in Southeast Asia?

Does the European (the EU and the member states’) focus on Myanmar tie in with their focus on China which has created security preoccupations due to its increasing influence on Myanmar and its neighbouring region? Both Myanmar’s president, Then Sein’s tour of the European capitals (Brussels included) and the European response to Sein’s request for cooperation at the beginning of 2013 shed light on the issue. Some responses from the member states specifically centred on cooperation in the field of security and offered a link to the Europeans’ broader concerns regarding China. The Rejectionist School approach contributes some reflections on President Sein’s attempts to build up Myanmar’s foreign policy in the EU.