As Chinese President Xi Jinping concludes his tour of three Southeast Asian countries this week, Myanmar stands as a stark reminder of what deep Chinese involvement can look like. Often overlooked, Myanmar remains embroiled in a civil war, yet maintains far-reaching ties with China across economic, military, and political sectors of the country. As Southeast Asia weighs its strategic choices amid Great Power Competition, Myanmar stands as a cautionary case—raising the question: will the region bandwagon with Beijing, or seek to balance between China and the United States?