Myanmar military has imported weaponry worth $1bn since coup
Al JazeeraJUL 2023
Myanmar: Rebels Claim to Have Shot Down Fighter Jet
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The Spin
Narrative A
This is a significant achievement for the resistance forces in northeastern Myanmar, which until now, have had no effective defense against air attacks. This incident is part of an ongoing offensive that has given the Junta a serious problem, cutting off trade routes to China and threatening tax revenues. If the regime can't mount a decisive response, it will be considered a sign of significant weakness.
Narrative B
The rebel alliance in the northeast is seriously threatening Myanmar's military regime, and the leadership is feeling the heat. The president has admitted that, if its military can't contain the situation, the rebels could break the country apart. The junta must therefore target efforts on the rebel-controlled areas and regain control over the border regions in order to reassert stability in the country.