NAYPYITAW — Myanmar's military has reversed significant losses against opposition forces across the country, regaining territory and preparing for further offensives. The shift follows a mass conscription drive, a sustained air campaign, and diplomatic pressure from China.
Just over a year ago, the military was in retreat. It had been pushed from large areas in the country's north by an alliance of seasoned militias and forced into defensive postures by new pro-democracy guerrillas elsewhere in the country.
In April 2024, a unit under the Karen National Union, a leading political body for the Karen ethnic minority, captured Infantry Battalion 275 in Myawaddy township, Kayin state. Commander Saw Win Myint inspected the damaged armory after the takeover.
The Tatmadaw responded by initiating a forced conscription drive in late 2023. This campaign has bolstered its ranks with tens of thousands of new recruits, significantly increasing its operational capacity.
The military's sustained air strikes have targeted resistance strongholds, degrading their ability to hold positions. Concurrently, resistance groups have faced reduced weapons flows, limiting their capacity to resupply and maintain offensive operations.
Chinese diplomatic engagement has also shifted the dynamics. Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Naypyitaw on April 25, 2026, following Hlaing's swearing-in on April 10, 2026.
Infighting among opposition factions has further weakened their collective strength. Some resistance groups have reportedly withdrawn from active combat.
