Myanmar is going to the polls. But it’s not the people who hold the power – it’s China

Analysis

Myanmar is going to the polls. But it’s not the people who hold the power – it’s China

Guardian staff

As the military pushes ahead with a widely condemned election, Beijing’s priorities are proving decisive

Myanmar’s first election since the 2021 coup: everything you need to know

Sun 28 Dec 2025 01.01 CET

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Myanmar’s military has managed to regain momentum in its battle against a determined patchwork of opposition groups, retaking some territory, and pushing ahead with a widely condemned election that begins on Sunday.

It is a turnaround for the military, which had appeared so beleaguered that some dared to question if it could collapse.

Analysts point to China, and its shifting support, as one of the most important factors that has changed the dynamics in a five-year conflict that first erupted after the 2021 coup.