(Photo: Myanmar ITV)In August 2024, Myanmar’s ruling military junta was losing ground fast. It hopes the phased elections that begin on Sunday will give it a veneer of legitimacy and help it return to the global stage. After years of US-led condemnation, Trump has refrained from criticising the junta or denouncing the elections, despite bipartisan pressure. China provided key military and diplomatic backing when the junta risked losing control to rebels last year. Within months, captured territory was being returned to a Myanmar military, which was boosted by mandatory conscription, allowing the junta to lift a nationwide state of emergency that had been in place since the coup.

Source: Bangkok Post December 23, 2025 20:27 UTC