Hillary Clinton arrives in Naypyidaw

Hillary Clinton arrived in Naypyidaw on Wednesday, becoming the first US secretary of state to visit Burma in 50 years, during a historic visit to the long-isolated Southeast Asian country, which is also known as Myanmar. And yet, the secretary of state's visit barely caused a stir.

According to CBS News, the visit is part of the United States' strategy to test the country's first civilian government in decades on its commitment to reform, including severing military and nuclear ties with North Korea.

Despite the diplomatic importance of Clinton's trip and international coverage of what it means, there was little fanfare in Naypyidaw when she arrived, Reuters reported. It stated that there were "no crowds, no festivities, no flags and seemingly few preparations aside from some policemen."

Clinton's visit appeared to be overshadowed by that of the prime minister of Belarus. There was a large billboard placed at a nearby hotel welcoming the prime minister to the country in a few days, Reuters reported. Clinton did not get a billboard.

While in Naypyidaw, the capital, Clinton will meet senior Burmese officials, including President Thein Sein, before heading to the commercial capital of Yangon, where she will meet opposition leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

According to Reuters, Clinton's visit to Burma caps "a period of rapid and remarkable transformation in the Southeast Asian country, a virtual pariah since the military seized power in a coup in 1962 starting decades of brutal authoritarian rule."

The visit could also open a new arena of US competition with China, which has watched warily as US increases engagement in Asia.

More from GlobalPost: Is China threatened by a more open Burma?

According to Reuters:

A senior US State Department official said Clinton would urge Myanmar's new leaders — many of them until recently top generals — to break off secret military deals with North Korea, another isolated state whose rogue nuclear program has spurred fears across East Asia and drawn international sanctions.

However, some US officials remain cautious about Clinton's visit.

"I am concerned that the visit of the secretary of state sends the wrong signal to the Burmese military thugs that cosmetic actions … are sufficient for the US to engage the regime," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

ABC News reported that "officials say Clinton's visit comes as the United States sees an opportunity to pry Myanmar away from China, an ally for many years."

However, according to Voice of America, the Chinese government is not perturbed by the meeting between US and Burmese officials, although there have been Chinese media reports accusing Washington of using Burma as part of a strategy to contain China.

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