Myanmar Military Losing Ground in Nationwide Attacks

Coordinated offensive by ethnic minority militias sparks hope for regime change, as China's tacit support complicates the conflict.

Myanmar's military is losing ground against coordinated attacks from an alliance of three well-armed militias of ethnic minorities, causing hope to rise among opponents that this could be a turning point in the struggle to oust the army leaders who toppled democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi almost three years ago.
The military has lost more than 180 outposts and strongpoints, including four major bases and four economically important border crossings with China.
Nearly 335,000 civilians have been displaced during the current fighting, bringing the total to more than 2 million displaced nationwide, according to the United Nations.
China appears to be providing tacit support for the Three Brotherhood Alliance, due in part to its growing irritation at the burgeoning drug trade along its border and the proliferation of centers in Myanmar from which cyberscams are run.
Despite the military's superior size and training, its morale is sagging with more troops surrendering and defecting, giving rise to a wary optimism among its diverse opponents.