Use of the Baidu Index to Measure Public Attention in China on the China-Myanmar Border

As one of the most unstable border areas, the China-Myanmar border has become a prevalent issue in international affairs in recent years, affecting a variety of policy debates from illegal immigration, illicit trade, geopolitical strategy, and continental bilateral cooperation. Baidu, currently the leading online search engine in China, has created the Baidu Index to gather and analyze internet search data. This study analyzed keyword searches on the Baidu Index related to the China-Myanmar border for the period 2011-2021. The study investigated search volume using trend research, demand mapping, and geographic and demographic distribution. The results showed steady growth throughout the 10-year research period for online searches on the China-Myanmar border, with a dramatic increase in 2015. Searches were mainly by men aged 20-39 years in southwest China. Baidu users were most interested in the trafficking of women and girls, followed by the 2015 Kokang conflict and ongoing COVID-19 cases in Ruili, Yunnan Province. Search trend data suggested that the fastest-growing topics of interest were maps of the China-Myanmar border, followed by militarized conflicts along the border. Policymakers can use the results of this study to understand the public concern about the China-Myanmar border in formulating more effective public governance measures.