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In Kachin State, some areas in five townships have experienced flooding due to heavy rainfall, local residents said on June 22. Currently, some areas of Mogaung Township, some parts of Haimaw Township, some parts of Nanm
The military junta carried out an airstrike on Chaungsauk village in Kyaikto Township, Mon State, causing casualties, including revolutionary force members, according to local residents. At around 1:00 p.m. on June 18, a
Burma News International (BNI) is a network of 15 independent media and news organizations based in and around Burma ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, a group of 134 current and former parliamentarians from 11 cou
Guest contributor James Shwe What two strategic thinkers reveal about China, the junta, and the resistance U.N. Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop’s latest address to the General Assembly, the European Union’s rejection of the junta’s staged election, and shifting Indian strategic commentary all point to the same conclusion: Myanmar’s military rulers remain weaker than they look, and the resistance still holds deeper strategic advantages. When people discuss Myanmar’s revolution, they usually turn to diplomats, activists, or think tanks. But two older voices—Sun Tzu and Niccolò Machiavelli—still offer a powerful way to read the current moment. Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese strategist traditionally linked to The Art of War, likely lived around the 6th century BCE. Machiavelli, a Florentine writer and statesman from Renaissance Italy, lived from 1469 to 1527; “Florentine” simply means he came from Florence, then a wealthy and intensely political city-state. If these two men looked at Myanmar today—China’s pressure, the junta’s staged legitimacy, the resistance’s staying power, and the battle over the U.N. seat—they would reach a similar conclusion: the junta looks stronger on paper than it is, while the resistance retains deeper strategic advantages. “The terrain, timing, and moral cause favor the resistance.” “The prince is hollow, and borrowed power cannot save him forever.” Sun Tzu’s view Sun Tzu begins with five essentials in conflict: moral cause, timing, terrain, leadership, and method. By that measure, the junta and Beijing are fighting on bad ground. The moral cause is plainly not with Min Aung Hlaing. The 2020 election result, the removal of the civilian government, and years of atrocities and mass displacement all sit on the resistance side. Timing also favors the side that only has to endure. A regime trying to govern a hostile country is under far more pressure than a movement that only has to survive and expand. Terrain matters too. Myanmar’s battle zones—from Sagaing Region to Kachin State, from Chin, Karenni and Rakhine states—favor mobile local forces, not a centralized army dependent on air power and fixed positions. China’s strategic ambitions, including trade corridors and infrastructure, must cross land where control is disputed and where local actors do not answer to either Naypyidaw or Beijing. Sun Tzu would also notice that China’s method does not fit the battlefield. Beijing works through documents, projects, pressure, and counterparties. But its counterparts are unreliable. The junta is losing legitimacy and control. Ethnic armed organizations have their own interests and cannot simply be ordered into line. Recent international signals reinforce this point. Julie Bishop told the U.N. General Assembly on June 19 that Aung San Suu Kyi should be released immediately and referred to her as having been re-elected in 2020 prior to the 2021 coup. The E.U. has also renewed sanctions and explicitly rejected any election that is neither free nor fair and merely serves to legitimize military rule. Sun Tzu would read these not as side issues, but as changes in political terrain. They make it harder for the junta and China to convert coercion into recognition. He would say the U.N. seat is especially important. It is not just a procedural matter. It is strategic ground. The junta and Beijing need to take that ground if they want to transform paper sovereignty into accepted sovereignty. So, it must be defended the way one defends a vital pass: with allies, preparation, and precise timing. A “seat empty” formula would look neutral but would actually hand the resistance’s voice to silence. Machiavelli’s view Machiavelli asks a different question: can a ruler who grabs power actually keep it? His answer for Min Aung Hlaing would be brutal. The junta chief is what Machiavelli would call a failed new prince. He seized power, but he never consolidated it. He did not crush opposition quickly. He did not secure a loyal and effective military. He did not build institutions that could outlast him. Instead, he is still trapped in a war years later, relying on Chinese and Russian backing to sustain a regime that cannot command genuine public obedience. Machiavelli warns repeatedly against relying on the arms of others. A prince who survives on borrowed force is never secure. That warning applies not only to Min Aung Hlaing but also to Beijing. China has invested in a client that cannot stand on its own and in local actors whose loyalty is conditional at best. Machiavelli is also useful on the question of legitimacy. He understood that deception only works if the audience accepts it. The junta’s staged election and “civilian president” maneuver were meant to give a coup constitutional clothing. But the deception has not worked where it matters. The E.U. has rejected that path as illegitimate, and Bishop’s remarks underscored that the world still remembers who won the last real election. In Machiavelli’s terms, a failed deception is worse than no deception at all because it exposes weakness and strengthens the opponent’s claim. He would also pay attention to India. Indian strategic commentary has become more realistic about Myanmar’s shifting balance, with growing recognition that resistance forces now shape the borderlands in ways New Delhi cannot ignore. Machiavelli would see this as a warning about coalitions built on mixed interests: they look large from a distance, but they begin to crack under stress. What both thinkers tell us Sun Tzu and Machiavelli use different languages, but they meet in the same place. Both would say the junta is weaker than it looks. Both would say China is overreaching through unreliable proxies. Both would say that legitimacy is not decoration; it is a battlefield. They would also agree on one warning. External conditions may be moving in the resistance’s favor, but internal unity still matters. That is why the Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union, or SCEF, is important. If the external opening grows while internal fragmentation continues, opportunity can still be lost. If SCEF helps turn scattered strengths into coordinated political direction, the resistance’s strategic advantage becomes much more meaningful. For DVB readers, the lesson is simple. This is not a story of inevitable junta recovery. It is a story of a hollow regime, an overextended patron, and a resistance that still holds the more important ground—moral, political, and increasingly diplomatic. James Shwe is a Myanmar democracy advocate and writer based in California. His previous DVB analysis of Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to India appeared on June 3. DVB publishes a diversity of opinions that do not reflect DVB’s editorial policy. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our stories: [email protected]
June 23 Magway PDF told Mizzima that it shot down a military junta's Mi-17 helicopter today (June 23). "We succeeded in shooting it down today. Details of casualties and records will be released after the ground forces'
National Unity Government Revolutionary forces attacked a military checkpoint in the town of Chauk, Magway Region, killing two soldiers and injuring six others, the Chauk Township (PAKF) organization announced today (Jun
It has been learned from the statement of the Magway People's Defense Force (Magway-PDF) and the statements of revolutionary news sources that a military's Mi-17 transport helicopter was shot down today in the Magway Reg
Analysts say the regime’s push to reduce conflict in northern Shan State is aimed at redirecting military resources toward other battlegrounds. The Myanmar junta has been seeking ceasefires with ethnic armed organization
Photo: Damage caused by an airstrike on June 18 in Kyauktao Township, Rakhine State. (AFP) June 23 Mizzima. . The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced that 702 civilians were killed by the
A wall collapse occurred at a railway tunnel construction site in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, resulting in the deaths of two people, including a Myanmar migrant worker, and leaving two other workers seriously
YANGON, June 23 It has been learned from local sources that a mother and her 2-year-old child died as a result of a drone bombing attack by the terrorist military on Kyauktaung village in Kanpetlet, Chin State. It is kno
Photo – Destruction from bombing in Mindat town on a June day (HKL- Mindat). Seven civilians, including a pregnant mother, were killed and over 10 were injured in air strikes carried out by the military junta forces in K
At least 48 detainees were handed the sentences in connection with an incident at Magway Prison last year, including one who later died during interrogation. .
A tree-planting ceremony and youth gathering, jointly organized by the Central Committee on Youth Affairs of Myanmar and the Mandalay Region Youth Affairs Committee, was held on June 22nd at Meiktila University of Econom
Among the government's initiatives aimed at benefiting the public, the issuance of Senior Citizen Identity Cards to elderly individuals eligible under the social pension program in Nay Pyi Taw, Union Territory, was carri
The opening ceremony of Special Refresher Course No. (114) for Basic Education Teachers was held Monday at 8:00 a.m. at the Yadanar Theinga Hall of the Civil Service Academy (Lower Myanmar). The event was attended by Cha
The Myanmar parliamentary delegation, led by Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw U Khin Yi, who is currently in Brest, Belarus, to attend the 2nd International Forum of the Union State "Great Heritage – Common Future," togethe
With the aims of preserving the natural environment, supporting favorable climate conditions, providing shade and greenery, and contributing to the national economy in various ways, tree-planting events have been held an
Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Tin Maung Swe, received Mr. Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of BIMSTEC at 4 PM on 22 June at the Ministry, Nay Pyi Taw. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on cooperat
Union Minister for the Ministry of National Planning, Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, U Aung Kyaw Hoe receives Mr. Abhay Thakur, Ambassador of India to Myanmar at the Office No (1) of Ministry, Nay Pyi Taw in
The Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development held its first monsoon tree-planting ceremony for 2026, Monday morning at Plot No. (20) of the bamboo and resin plantation project site, belonging to the Department of S
Under the guidance of the Ministry of Sports, the opening ceremony of the Weightlifting Referee and Coaching Refresher Course No. (1/2026), jointly organized by the Department of Sports and Physical Education and the Mya
An awareness briefing and discussion on anti-corruption, jointly organized by the Ministry of Construction and the Anti-Corruption Commission, was held in the morning on June 22, at the Ministry of Construction's assembl
Mekong, June 23 A woman returning home from work was robbed of her motorcycle, mobile phone, and a wallet containing cash in the vicinity of Shan Kwin, Ward 3, Kan Gyi Ward, Taunggyi City, southern Shan State, around 6:3
Mekong, June 23 In Ayetar Township, Shan State, a situation has arisen where an EPC staff member collected meter fees from various wards but failed to submit them to the department. When the public reported this to the department, Ayetar EPC denied responsibility and is demanding that residents pay the meter fees again. It is understood that in most wards, some residents had paid approximately 30,000 kyats per month, or around 100,000 kyats for at least three months, but these funds were not submitted to the department. "We have been paying the meter fees every month as soon as the bill arrives. And paying the service fee. We have been doing this for a long time. Then, in May, the meter fee exceeded 30,000 kyats. Since he said it was okay to transfer via Kpay because he was busy collecting, I transferred it. The next month, the meter bill included outstanding meter charges. When I asked, he said he would say it was paid, and so on. This month, the outstanding charges exceeded 40,000 kyats. When I mentioned it, he said he would say it, and so on. Later, I realized that it wasn't just my household that was affected; many others were too. The money that should have been paid for the meter was taken without being paid. When I went to the EPC office the other day and spoke to them, they said it had nothing to do with them and that the person had been fired. So, the outstanding debts accumulated over months," said a resident of Ward 11, Ayetar. The Ayetar EPC employee who collected meter fees from the public and did not pay the money to the government is named Lin Pyay Soe Oo. Ayetar EPC, which claims he was officially appointed but denies responsibility, is demanding that the public pay the meter fees again and is threatening to cut off electricity if they do not pay, according to the public. Although it is said that he was fired, some residents claim that he was actually transferred to Hopone Township. "In the ward, almost every household was deceived like this for two months. My house lost nearly a year's worth. I heard that some houses lost up to 500,000 or 600,000 kyats. The remaining balance was covered in black ink. They gave us papers after looking at the household's situation. Even though I looked at the papers carefully, I didn't notice because I was distracted, and I only realized it when I saw the annual summary. When I explained the situation to the office, they just said he was fired. Their husband (referring to the employee) was still distributing papers in uniform to some wealthy households, and there was even an employee who mockingly said, 'You suffer because of your own actions.' It seems like they are colluding and working together to cheat. If you don't pay the meter fees for up to three months, you will have your electricity cut off. If you come to cut off the electricity, we would have known we were deceived earlier and it would have been a little easier. Are you intentionally creating a loophole for corruption? " said a local resident. As a responsible government department, it is a disgraceful act for a government department to easily dismiss the issue by saying "he was fired," to avoid responsibility, to not investigate the ongoing problem, to shift the blame onto the public, to deceive the public by abusing authority, and to fail to take effective legal action against the loss of state funds. Therefore, it is desired that the Shan State government take necessary actions for the suffering public. #MekongNews #WardMeterFees #Ayetar #EPC #Fraud
Mekong, June 23 Some employees at the Tikyi Dragon Cement Factory in Pinlaung Township, southern Shan State, have alleged that there are deductions and mismanagement by the administrative section regarding their salaries
On June 20, at 6:15 p.m., the revolutionary forces raided the checkpoint of the military group at Kyaukte Road, Kyang Township. (Pakafa Kyang Township, NUG) MTO (June 23) Mizzima. . Every time I bend, The Revolutionary F
To reduce damage in the event of earthquakes and natural disasters, work on assessing the earthquake and natural disaster risks of buildings for their structural integrity is planned to commence on July 1st, according to
Business people in China have expressed interest in purchasing Myanmar corn long-term through a B2B system and have made proposals, according to the Myanmar Consulate General in Kunming. The China Kumming ASEAN Associati
Photo – Residents are seen fleeing due to the junta troops' offensive in the southern part of Myaing Township, which began on June 15 (Anya Myo Civil Society Organization-Myaing). MTO (June 23) Residents of villages in t
Myanmar’s military was responsible for more than 700 civilian deaths over the six-month election period last year, the United Nations said Monday. A fresh UN report covering the period from last August, when Myanmar’s mi
The attack took place in Kyaukhpyar Village Tract, part of Kyaikto Township, the operational area of the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 1. On June 18, a junta fighter jet dropped a 500-pound bomb on Chaungsauk Villag
In Myanmar, the military junta is increasingly carrying out night-time bombing attacks on villages in areas controlled by anti-regime resistance forces, using not only warplanes but also powered paramotors and gyrocopter
Myanmar nationals jointly celebrated the 81st birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and held a fundraising bazaar for the Spring Revolution in Brisbane, Australia. Furthermore, an 81-kilometer run was successfully completed a
A decline in humanitarian assistance is worsening the suffering of millions of people in Myanmar after five years of conflict-related violence, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said in a report published on Monday. Thi
Malaysia’s Immigration Department (JIM) detained 186 undocumented foreigners, including 26 Myanmar nationals, in a raid on buildings housing foreign workers near Pasar Pudu in Kuala Lumpur in June, according to a JIM sta