March 28th, 2025, 9:18am
Lala Jakes
Lala Jakes covers global conflict and diplomacy.
A scene from the bridge after protesters clashed with security forces in Yangon, Myanmar in 2021. Credit…New York Times
Since seizing power four years ago, the military junta that controls Myanmar has gradually weakened, and some analysts have predicted it could soon collapse in a scenario similar to the Syrian government’s rebels in December.
The financial and military support of benefactors, including China, India, Russia and Thailand, allowed the junta to maintain its grip. This week’s report by the UN Humanitarian Aid Agency found that even before Friday’s earthquake, it controls around 20% of urban areas, primarily amidst a civil war that lost adequate food, shelters or security even before Friday’s earthquake.
Myanmar’s dark economy has sparked widespread anger towards Junta. Its leader, senior general Min Aung Frening, has been charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity.
General Min Aung Fröning this month arrested the leader of an armed group that tried to protect Rahingya Muslims from a fierce Earth campaign of arson and mass rape, and continued to persecute ethnic minorities, including the mass rape and murders that the US called genocide.
Senior General Min Ang Fröning has been charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity.
The Trump administration has so far adopted a largely handoff approach to Myanmar, but joined the Democratic alliance in January that denounced the junta and urged it to eliminate violence. The move aims to curb Myanmar’s instability and prevent another surge in people fleeing the country after about a million Rohingya fleeing to refugee camps in nearby Bangladesh.
However, according to an analysis by the Council of Foreign Relations, India, Russia and China all provided arms to the junta, which Thailand gave financial support and defended against international condemnation.
China, which supports military-led rebels by selling drones, cannons and electromagnetic jammers, sees military-led government as the only force capable of linking Myanmar together. However, Beijing has been hesitant to fully support the February 2021 coup, and appears to be looking for what the Stimson Centre, a foreign policy research group, describes this month as an administration’s “off-ramp.”
Last year, China pledged $3 billion in support to the junta to fund the census and election similarities. However, a report from the Stimson Center said, “Beijing doesn’t seem to be convinced that a transition to a federal democratic system is possible.”
Graduated from Kareni Soldier in 2024. They were one of several rebels that were zinced since the Myanmar coup.
General Min Aung Fröning’s recent moves show that he is at least trying to make it appear to be seen as responding to international pressure. On Thursday, he announced that Myanmar will hold a “dorable” election in December. He is reportedly planning to visit Thailand for a meeting with local leaders next week. His spokesman is visiting overseas for what he described as a discussion of “the possibility of peace.”
On Friday, a military spokesman called for international aid and said he would work with foreign donors after reporting that massive damages were still influencing from Quake. The announcement suggested that authorities expect the death toll to be high.
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