In the troubled land of Myanmar, the flames of war never seem to go away. Recently, Myanmar's military junta suffered another major blow, with the loss of the border town of Myawaddy one of the biggest challenges the junta has faced since the 2021 coup. About 200 Burmese troops reportedly retreated to Thai territory after heavy fighting, an incident that not only marked a further escalation of the internal conflict in Myanmar, but also put unprecedented pressure on neighboring Thailand.
Since the overthrow of the democratically elected government, Myanmar's National Unity Government and local ethnic militias have been waging a relentless struggle against the junta. The loss of Myawaddy was not only a major military defeat for the junta, but also an economic and political double blow. Myawaddy, as an important town for border trade, has always been one of the important sources of revenue for the junta. Now that control of the region has fallen into the hands of anti-junta groups, this is undoubtedly a serious blow to the junta.
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Banbi has said publicly that Thailand has remained neutral in the conflict in Myanmar and has the capacity to accommodate up to 100,000 people displaced by the unrest. However, as more and more Burmese soldiers flee to Thailand, the focus of attention is on whether the Thai government's neutrality can be maintained, and how this will affect Thailand's domestic political and social stability.
Myanmar's military junta has shown signs of fatigue in the face of continued challenges from the Government of National Unity and the People's Defence Forces. The junta is facing the most serious threat after facing massive losses and setbacks in recent months. The Government of National Unity claimed that it had joined forces with the People's Defence Forces (PDF) to attack two military installations in the capital, Naypyidaw, with drones, further weakening the junta's grip.
Thailand's role in this conflict has become increasingly delicate. On the one hand, the Thai government needs to maintain its neutrality, and on the other hand, Thailand must also take into account the security and stability of its own population. Thai Prime Minister Shek Ta said in an interview with the media that now is a good time to start negotiations with Myanmar. This statement seems to imply the Thai government's concern about the situation in Myanmar and its desire for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
However, the road to peace has never been easy. Myanmar's military junta faces unprecedented challenges, but they still hold most of the country's power and resources. In such a situation, any attempt to resolve the issue through negotiation will be fraught with difficulties and uncertainties.