Battle Lines — “China’s Sham Election: Why Beijing Is Propping Up Myanmar’s Brutal Junta”
Podcast: Battle Lines (The Telegraph)
Date: January 21, 2026
Hosts: Venetia Rainey & Arthur Scott-Geddes
Guests: Sarah Newey (The Telegraph’s Global Health Security Correspondent, Bangkok) & Joe Freeman (Amnesty International)
Episode Overview
This episode investigates the context and consequences of Myanmar’s recent “sham” elections, focusing on the central role China (and Russia) play in propping up the country’s military junta. Journalists and human rights experts explore what life is like under the new regime, how these elections serve the military’s quest for international legitimacy, and the shifting regional dynamics as the US withdraws and China consolidates influence. Key issues discussed include the economic collapse inside Myanmar, the crackdown on dissent, the humanitarian crisis, the scam center phenomenon, and prospects for resistance amid deepening military control.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. What is Happening on the Ground in Myanmar?
[02:12–07:23]
- Life in Yangon:
- The surface appears “almost normal” with everyday activities continuing, but a deeper look reveals “the fabric of the city has just been torn apart.”
- Absence of young people is striking—many have fled forced conscription or left for work overseas.
- Economic collapse is visible: the middle class is “completely wiped out,” fuel prices are up, and children are forced to work.
- Unlike rebel areas where airstrikes and extreme poverty are prevalent, in Yangon the war’s impact is more economic than physical.
"On first glance, it almost looked normal...but as soon as you ask even a single question, it's clear that everyone's experiences in life over the last five years have changed dramatically."
— Sarah Newey [02:36]
- Election Environment:
- Strong police (rather than military) presence during elections.
- People are fearful—"terrified of talking to journalists," worrying that participation or boycotts could put families at risk.
- A new election law threatens up to 49 years in prison for anti-junta dissent.
- Use of indelible ink makes voting (or not) visible, fostering an environment of intimidation.
“There was this tension in the air around the election and concerns about whether they should or shouldn’t be taking part. What’s going to happen if they don’t? Are they going to be arrested or followed? Are their family members going to be arrested and followed?”
— Sarah Newey [05:11]
2. A Sham Election: Mechanics and Stakes
[06:56–13:03]
-
The ‘Choice’ at the Polls:
- Vast majority of 2020’s political parties were banned.
- Main choice is the military-backed Union, Solidarity and Development Party; main opposition (Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy) is disbanded, its leader imprisoned and incommunicado.
- Official claims of 50% turnout and 80% support for military party are “probably not” credible.
-
Why Hold an Election?
- Military seeks “credibility laundering”—a way to maintain its grip but project a façade of civilian rule to the world.
- Election laws make dissent dangerous (from severe sentences to the death penalty).
- For civilians, the stakes are existential: "They're fighting for their lives...for their community, they're fighting for their livelihoods."
“What it [the junta] wants to do is retain its position, but in a way that, like a criminal would launder its money to become a legitimate business. So this election is a kind of credibility laundering.”
— Joe Freeman [08:25]
3. Context: The Lost Promise of Democracy
[13:03–17:16]
- The Contrast to 2015:
- International optimism and openness; people queued to vote, took selfies with their inked fingers.
- Aung San Suu Kyi led public celebrations, opposition media operated freely.
- Now: “None of that this time at all. It was such a contrast... at polling stations in the morning, it was like tumbleweed.”
- Exile media, civil society, and international companies have largely fled or been banned.
“It really is this kind of heartbreaking reset to what Myanmar used to be. And it's only happened in 5 to 10 years...and now look at what's happened to Myanmar.”
— Joe Freeman [15:47]
4. Why is China Propping Up the Junta?
[19:28–25:00]
- China's Calculations:
- Sees the junta as the “best source of stability,” not a partner of choice but one of necessity.
- Seeks to shield business/commercial interests, keep out Western influence, and avoid border instability.
- China's support includes political cover (e.g., blocking UN action), sending election monitors, and at times giving “tacit approval” to rebel actions—but only up to the point that its own interests are threatened.
“China just sees the military as the best source of a stable country and that's why it's backing the elections, wanting a veneer of legitimacy to be able to expand upon the business it's already doing...”
— Sarah Newey [19:46]
- A Marriage of Convenience:
- China does not “love” the Myanmar military—its support is pragmatic and can shift if interests change.
- Recent actions:
- In 2023, China allowed (tacitly) rebel offensives against the military, before quickly stepping in to rein in these groups once its interests were threatened.
- Pressured rebel groups to return territory and supported the junta’s electoral “political maneuver.”
“The trend of the past year has been these really important levels of support for the military by China...I can't think of a more important international partner or backer than China in this process. But I think the military also needs to beware because...China will do what is in its interest.”
— Joe Freeman [23:30]
5. Shifting Spheres of Influence: Withdrawal of the US; Rise of China & Russia
[25:00–29:23]
- US Withdrawal:
- Trump administration’s drawdown has left a vacuum in border and civil society support.
- China is moving into that vacuum—“stepping up to support de-mining programs” and humanitarian initiatives previously led by the US.
“US funding was almost, I won’t say propping up, but it was supporting almost all Myanmar-based media...and so there’s all of a sudden this huge vacuum. It stands to reason...that China saw this as a great opportunity to step in.”
— Joe Freeman [25:20]
- Russia’s Role:
- Russia is a key military backer—supplying weapons, fighter jets, and high-level political support.
- Organized official visits, parades, and trade with Myanmar.
“Russia was sending people to attend high profile visits...provides weapons and fighter jets and things that help Myanmar keep the upper hand in the conflict as well.”
— Joe Freeman [28:34]
6. Illicit Economies: Scam Centers and China's Crackdown
[29:23–31:10]
- Myanmar has become a regional hub for organized crime—scams, trafficking, narcotics, and illegal wildlife trade.
- Recent increase in Chinese crackdown owing to domestic pressure—operations targeted both large and small scam centers across Southeast Asia.
- Changes are visible but the criminal networks have adapted, dispersing to more decentralized operations.
“The problem has almost grown too large to ignore for a long time. I think they [China] turned a blind eye to a lot of Chinese crime syndicates who were operating not only in Myanmar, but also in Cambodia and in Laos. But...I think it's a marker of the political pressure that China is putting on these governments.”
— Sarah Newey [29:44]
7. Who’s Winning? Status of the Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis
[31:10–38:06]
- Military Resurgence:
- Junta “has gained the upper hand recently,” regaining lost territory—in part due to Chinese and Russian support and the introduction of forced conscription in 2024.
- Airstrikes up 30% in 2025. Humanitarian situation remains dire—blockades, famine risk, and millions displaced (3.5 million people) with an estimated 7–8 million children out of school.
“In December...we actually saw an airstrike on a hospital that killed 30 people in Rakhine State. So the war is not decelerating and the humanitarian situation is only getting worse.”
— Sarah Newey [31:34]
- Grim Economic Collapse:
- Currency value has plunged 80% against the USD since 2020; inflation is 30%.
- Everyday life is dominated by survival, not by political engagement.
“One statistic that has really stuck in my head is that the value of the currency has dropped by 80%... inflation is now at 30%. That was something that came up again and again. So that's impacting cities as well as these more rural areas that are at the epicentre of fighting.”
— Sarah Newey [33:55]
- International Abandonment & The Hope in Resistance:
- As aid dwindles, the pressure mounts on the local population, making international recommitment critical.
- Justice efforts (e.g., ICC, ICJ) are stuck; the Rohingya genocide trial has begun but actual accountability remains distant.
- Despite crackdowns, ordinary people continue to resist—through silent strikes and creative protests.
“Despite all these challenges, there is quite a strong resistance in Myanmar...normal people who are continuing to do whatever they can to resist the military peacefully...So I don't want to end on quite a bleak message. I think there's still a lot of hope in Myanmar that people can resist what's happening and endure this. Of course, it's easier said than done.”
— Joe Freeman [38:01]
Notable Quotes
-
“Every decision feels dangerous, and I think that really cuts to the heart of why these are sham elections. But Burmese people are really caught in the middle.”
— Venetia Rainey [06:56] -
“It was such a contrast from the stories that I've heard of that period of excitement...there was none of that this time at all.”
— Sarah Newey [16:37] -
“This election is a kind of...credibility laundering. And it spent the past year very craftily kind of laying all this out.”
— Joe Freeman [08:25] -
“China was surprised by how well [the rebel attacks] did and then freaked out because they don't — there's no clear path for who can take over if not the military.”
— Sarah Newey [19:46] -
“The overall status of the country in the war right now is there's no end in sight. The humanitarian situation is horrendous. Collapse has been huge.”
— Sarah Newey [33:55]
Timestamps of Key Segments
- [02:12] — Life in junta-held Myanmar, absence of young men, economic struggles
- [05:11] — Atmosphere around the elections, repression, voting intimidation
- [07:23] — What’s at stake for different groups, why the military wanted elections
- [11:22] — Who can people vote for, what happened to Aung San Suu Kyi
- [13:03] — Contrast with 2015’s democratic moment
- [19:46] — Why China is supporting the junta, “marriage of convenience”
- [25:20] — The regional shift: US withdrawal, China and Russia fill the void
- [28:34] — Russia’s role as a military and political backer
- [29:44] — The scam center economy and China’s crackdown
- [31:34] — Who’s winning? Military gains ground, humanitarian crisis intensifies
- [34:51] — International abandonment, enduring resistance, and a call for renewed global attention
Tone & Style
The conversation is direct, deeply informed, and at times urgent and mournful—but always focused on illuminating the human stakes amidst geopolitical maneuvering. The guests blend on-the-ground reportage with policy and human rights analysis; the hosts highlight critical quotes and sharpen thematic connections.
Takeaways
- The 2026 election in Myanmar is a strategic play by the junta to “launder” its credibility, not a genuine return to civilian rule.
- Ordinary people face impossible choices amid harsh repression and economic collapse.
- China and Russia are the external lifelines for the junta, supporting it for their own interests and in the context of US disengagement.
- Organized crime and illicit industries have flourished in the instability—increasingly targeted (selectively) by Beijing as a matter of self-interest.
- Despite deepening authoritarianism, resistance and hope persist inside Myanmar, and international re-engagement is desperately needed.