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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Guardian staff

Myanmar is going to the polls. But it’s not the people who hold the power – it’s China

distant view of the township, with a missile being fired in the distance
A missile fired from a Myanmar military base in Lashio township, northern Shan State. China’s support for the military has been crucial to the fortunes of the junta. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Myanmar’s military has managed to regain momentum in its battle against a determined patchwork of opposition groups, retaking some territory, and pushing ahead with a widely condemned election that begins on Sunday.

It is a turnaround for the military, which had appeared so beleaguered that some dared to question if it could collapse.

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