Burma’s earthquake has been exploited by the Burmese military

The earthquake which struck Burma on 28th March 2025 has been anything but a disaster for the Burmese military. Instead, they have swiftly exploited the earthquake for their own benefit.

Following the Burmese military response to Cyclone Nargis in 2008, when the military systematically blocked international aid and local community response aid teams, instead telling people to eat plump frogs, the bar was already set very low. Anything better than that would be seen as progress. So, when the military appealed for international aid following the earthquake, a basic response that would be obvious and expected in most countries, they were praised.