Anti-government groups in Myanmar initially gained an advantage using commercial drones, but the military's deployment of drones—reportedly supplied by Beijing has shifted the balance. This development has left resistance groups struggling against the junta's increasing aerial capabilities.
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00:00Almost four years into a bloody civil war.
00:06The technology that once helped Myanmar's pro-democracy rebels wage their campaign has
00:11been turned against them.
00:15Drones were key to insurgents' success in a 2023 military offensive, and in 2024 rebels
00:22used drones to attack the junta government in the capital Naypyidaw.
00:26But since then, the country's military has obtained drones of their own.
00:31The military drone capacities far exceed those of the rebels, who repurposed smuggled
00:59civilian drones designed for agricultural or even filming purposes.
01:05Initial reports say there is evidence to suggest that new, more powerful drones have been provided
01:10to the military by Beijing, a key junta ally.
01:40Insurgency fighters say there's nothing they can do except run and hide.
01:50Meanwhile, the military's recent success has brought fighting to towns like Mobe, where
01:55displaced families had recently moved to a makeshift encampment.
01:59Many have been displaced multiple times in recent years.
02:21Now, they're grappling with what it means to move yet again, and with how their lives
02:26have changed since the coup began in 2021.
02:52As drones change the face of a conflict where millions have been displaced, these families
02:57are attempting to start over.
02:59Whether they can stay put this time will depend on forces and technologies far beyond the
03:05borders of Mobe.
03:07Alex Chen and Sonia Schlesinger for Taiwan Plus.