Sino-Burmese Wars (1765-1769)

      (Aron Plamondon’s post from the EBSCO in 2023.)

The Burmese-Chinese Wars were a series of military conflicts primarily between the Burmese kingdoms and the Chinese Ming Dynasty, spanning from the mid-15th to the late 18th centuries.

These wars were largely influenced by the complex relationship between the Tai peoples, including the Shans of Burma, and the Chinese, who sought to assert control over the region, particularly the strategic Irrawaddy waterway.

The first significant conflict began in 1438, driven by the ambitions of a Maw Shan chieftain, Thonganbwa, which led to a protracted struggle for dominance. Throughout the following decades, the wars involved numerous battles, shifting allegiances, and periods of both conflict and uneasy peace.

Notably, the conflict in the 1760s was sparked by Burmese incursions into Shan territories, prompting Chinese military responses that ultimately ended in failure. The conclusion of the last major conflict in 1769 resulted in the Kuangton Treaty, which fostered a temporary restoration of trade and diplomatic exchanges.

Why US will never collapse as the empire?

             (AI Overview from the Google Search on 31 December 2025.)

The United States has not experienced a traditional "collapse" like historical empires due to a combination of unique geographic, economic, and political factors. Unlike empires that relied on ruling over unwilling subjects and remote colonies, the U.S. established a form of global influence often described as a "rules-based international system" or a "benign hegemon".

Key reasons cited for the US's resilience and longevity include: Geographic Security and Resources: The continental U.S. is geographically isolated from powerful adversaries by two large oceans and possesses vast natural resources and a large, fertile landmass. This has largely shielded it from the sort of foreign invasions and constant border wars that contributed to the collapse of past empires like Rome.

Economic Strength: The U.S. has long maintained the world's largest and most diverse economy, supported by a strong internal market and the global dominance of the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency. This financial influence allows it to exert power differently than traditional empires, often through economic means and globalization, rather than direct colonial rule.