Fighting Resumes in Kyakphyu Township

Fighting between the junta and the Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan (Rakhine) State’s Kyaukphyu Township, which is home to Chinese investment projects, resumed on 21 July 2025 following a pause since 10 July.

The AA controls nearly all of Kyaukphyu Township. The junta only controls Kyaukphyu City, a 10-mile radius around the city including about 12 villages, Dhanyawadi Naval Base south of Kyaukphyu City, Maday Island where China is trying to set up a deep sea port and most of the Kyaukphyu Economic Zone south of Kyaukphyu City, where there are other Chinese backed infrastructure projects.

The junta used the pause in fighting between 10 and 21 July to bring troop reinforcements into Kyaukphyu Township via sea routes. Then, on 21 July, the junta resumed launching airstrikes and firing artillery at AA positions in Kyaukphyu Township whilst resuming ground offensives against some AA positions in the township.