Myanmar’s Conflicts Tied to Natural Resources

Why this is here: Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise generates over US$1 billion annually for the junta, representing the regime’s largest single source of foreign revenue.

James Shwe details how Myanmar’s ongoing war is deeply connected to its abundant natural resources. Since the 1962 coup, the military has acted like an elite capturing revenue from state-owned enterprises and exports like gas and jade. This system reduces the need for fair taxation and accountable governance, prioritizing control of wealth over citizen welfare.

Myanmar’s strategic location—connecting China and India to the Indian Ocean—further complicates matters. External actors prioritize access to resources and corridors, incentivizing engagement with those in power, regardless of legitimacy. Ethnic regions hold many of the country’s resources, but have been treated as obstacles rather than partners.

Currently, resistance forces face the same funding challenges as the military, risking a continuation of the exploitative system. Shwe argues that a shift towards treating resources as a shared national trust, with civilian oversight and community consent, is crucial for a sustainable peace.