NUG vows to block revived Myitsone Dam, warning project sacrifices Myanmar’s “lifeblood” to China

Mizzima

The National Unity Government (NUG) has issued a stern warning against the military junta’s attempts to restart the long-suspended Myitsone Dam project, characterized by NUG spokesperson U Nay Phone Latt as a desperate move to trade the nation’s “heart and lifeblood” for Chinese backing.

Speaking on the “Reporting to the Public and International Community” program on 6 January 2026, U Nay Phone Latt declared that any international agreements signed by the “terrorist military junta” are legally void and that investors will be held solely responsible for any subsequent financial losses.

The spokesperson detailed catastrophic environmental risks, noting that blocking the natural flow of silt would lead to severe soil degradation across the Ayeyarwady Region and allow seawater intrusion to destroy the agricultural viability of the Delta.

Furthermore, the NUG highlighted the lethal threat posed by the dam’s location near the Sagaing Fault; experts warn that a structural failure could submerge major cities in Kachin State within minutes.

“The power-seizing military junta has no legal authority to sell state-owned resources or enter into international agreements,” U Nay Phone Latt asserted, reiterating the NUG’s commitment to working with ethnic revolutionary allies to ensure the Ayeyarwady River remains free-flowing.

The junta, meanwhile, recently issued a sweeping directive threatening to prosecute anyone who opposes such “state-authorized” projects, a move widely viewed as a shield for Chinese investments in exchange for Beijing’s continued diplomatic and military support.