Section Archive


The Irrawaddy presents an infographic examining high-level visits to Myanmar by Chinese leaders from 1954 to 2014, and their significance for bilateral relations.

Three active ethnic armed groups have extended their ceasefire by two months but fighting persists in Rakhine State.

China seeks to develop the Irrawaddy River as a safe, cheap link from Yunnan to the Indian Ocean; local critics fear the impact on the economy and the river itself.

Rejecting the NLD and ethnic parties’ constitutional amendment process, the Myanmar military has gone its own way on charter change, submitting proposals independently.

Despite numerous informal peace talks, fighting continues and trust is in short supply. But both sides now believe a formal summit can be held in January. 

Failing to learn lessons from existing projects, officials tout the benefits of BRI projects while ignoring locals’ fears of land-grabs, lost livelihoods and pollution.

This week’s jailing of a satirical performance troupe continues a worrying trend of official legal action against critics of the government and military.

The Restoration Council of Shan State claims the military is trying to undermine the peace process.

Despite the government’s vow to boost efficiency, Myanmar’s budget deficit has widened annually under the NLD. The Irrawaddy examines the state’s inflows and outflows.

Under the NLD government, inflation has rebounded after an initial fall, while prices have risen steadily. The Irrawaddy’s infographics illustrate key data since 2016.

As insurgent threats mount, the military’s calls for a top-level security meeting grow louder.

While they value the business, locals in the tourism industry say the govt opened the door to mass tourism from China without considering cultural, environmental impacts.

Ethnic leaders say the ruling party’s new Ethnic Affairs Committee is evidence that the NLD would rather compete for votes than cooperate with ethnic parties.

Building dykes to protect the flood-prone site of the mega-project will cost an estimated $100 million—and that doesn’t cover the inevitable impact on surrounding areas.