Rebel factions in Myanmar have rejected a peace proposal from the country’s ruling junta, which is struggling with battlefield losses and widespread defections after more than three years of civil war. This marks the junta’s first attempt at outreach since seizing power in 2021 and follows the collapse of a ceasefire in northern Shan state, brokered by China.
The military urged ethnic armed groups and “terrorist insurgents” to engage in political dialogue and join elections scheduled for next year. However, the exiled National Unity Government (NUG) dismissed the offer, questioning the junta’s legitimacy to hold elections.
As the junta grapples with fighting on multiple fronts, some reports indicate it controls less than half of Myanmar’s territory. Ethnic armies launched renewed offensives in June, targeting areas near the Chinese border and hindering Beijing’s strategic plans to connect its southwest region with the Indian Ocean through Myanmar.
Beijing has reportedly urged Myanmar’s junta to stabilize the conflict, with Chinese diplomat Wang Yi issuing a warning during a recent visit. The military’s statement emphasized the devastating impact of the war, including human and infrastructure losses.
However, rebel groups remain skeptical of the junta’s intentions. The Karen National Union (KNU), which has fought for greater autonomy along the Thai border for decades, insists talks are only possible if the military agrees to key political conditions, including the exclusion of the military from future politics and accountability for war crimes.
The Bamar People’s Liberation Army and Mandalay People’s Defense Forces also dismissed the peace offer, with one rebel commander likening it to a deceptive gesture.
Myanmar has been embroiled in conflict since the military overthrew the democratically elected government in 2021, prompting ethnic armed groups and anti-coup militias to unite against the junta. The civil war has claimed over 50,000 lives and displaced more than two million people, according to the United Nations, which recently warned that the country is descending into deeper humanitarian crisis.
