Key facts
- Myanmar's military is conducting an offensive to clear land for a Russia-backed special economic zone in the Dawei region.
- Hundreds of troops have been deployed, with reports of villages being burned and civilians killed.
- The project aims to create a deep-sea port and power plant as a strategic alternative to the Strait of Malacca.
- Myanmar's junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, has promoted the project during recent diplomatic engagements with Thailand and Russia.
- Russian companies are interested in expanding trade and creating jobs through the Dawei SEZ.
Myanmar's military has launched an offensive, deploying hundreds of troops to forcibly clear areas designated for a Russia-backed special economic zone (SEZ) in the country's south, according to resistance fighters and local activists. The operation, which includes burning villages and sealing off land around the Dawei SEZ on the Andaman Sea, is the clearest indication yet that the military-backed government is prepared to use force to revive the project. This push coincides with diplomatic efforts, including junta chief Min Aung Hlaing pitching Dawei as a gateway to South and West Asia during a visit to Thailand and subsequent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Since July, the military has significantly increased its troop presence in the southern Tanintharyi Region, leading to clashes with local resistance groups. Fighters report that troops have torched houses in at least three villages and killed three aid workers assisting displaced communities. The military's objective is to clear the area for the Dawei SEZ, which includes a planned deep-sea port and power plant.
The offensive intensified following a late-June visit by armed forces' deputy chief Kyaw Swar Lin, who urged soldiers to protect strategic projects. Conflict monitor ACLED reported a column of approximately 700 soldiers advancing, raiding villages, and killing civilians, with the operation reinforced by air and naval attacks. The military aims to reclaim strategic territory lost to opposition groups since the 2021 coup.
The Dawei SEZ project, initially a joint venture with Thailand launched in 2008, stalled in 2013 due to local opposition and funding shortages. Myanmar's current government is now seeking to revive it with Russian support. Officials have highlighted that the port could enable cargo to move significantly faster than traversing the Strait of Malacca and is located near major offshore gas fields. Russian companies have expressed intent to collaborate on the project, aiming to expand trade and create jobs, potentially giving Russia increased market access in Southeast Asia and a port presence in the Indian Ocean.