Section Archive

Hungry for electricity, Myanmar is accepting China’s offers of cheap LNG stations and crossborder transmissions. But relying on Chinese power poses dangers, experts warn.

Parliament will vote on constitutional amendments next week. The most contentious are those put forward by NLD and ethnic MPs seeking to oust the military from politics.

The Rakhine conflict is increasingly marked by civilian casualties, for which neither of the warring parties is being held accountable.

Like the NLD, the USDP once tried to amend the charter, launching its bid in Parliament in 2013. What are the key differences between the two parties’ approaches?

The recent appointment of an officer seen as loyal to Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing as Home Affairs chief is expected to be followed by a shake-up of the Tatmadaw’s top brass.

The leaders of Kachin parties say the 2008 Constitution must be reformed ahead of this year’s general election if further bloodshed is to be avoided.

Among more than 100 proposed amendments submitted by the NLD, two in particular have the potential to remove the military’s power to block constitutional reform.


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.