CNI News

13 January 2026

Political analyst Sai Mein told CNI News that the government emerging from Myanmar’s elections will not be a "people's government" because the election process emerged at China’s behest.

Mr. Deng Xijun, the Chinese Special Envoy who arrived to observe the election, stated that the polls were held based on an agreement between Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (Acting President) and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Sai Mein explained to CNI that major parties like the NLD and SNLD—which previously won landslide victories nationwide—were barred from participating. Consequently, representatives who would truly sacrifice for the people could not be elected.

"A government appointed through an election that lacks public support can never become the government the people desire," Sai Mein said. "Based on our observations, the representatives emerging from this election are those who won via advance votes. This suggests the election is neither simple nor fair. An election held to satisfy China cannot build a genuine government for Myanmar. Currently, revolutionary and armed forces across almost every township are in revolt. This proves that the people’s will is not being met and they cannot yet elect the leaders they need."

The Myanmar flag and the Chinese flag.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing held his first meeting with President Xi Jinping on May 9, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. They met for a second time on August 30, 2025, in Tianjin, China.

Mr. Deng Xijun remarked that, in broad terms, everything appeared to be proceeding smoothly during his observation of the Myanmar elections.

Conversely, U Thein Tun Oo, Director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies, told CNI News that the election provided an opportunity for all citizens. He argued that making various excuses after the election is over, having failed to exercise that right, requires no special explanation.

He further dismissed the claim that the election was at China’s behest, stating that Myanmar does not operate under Chinese sovereignty.

"We already announced how the election would be conducted," U Thein Tun Oo said. "We don't work under Chinese sovereignty, so there's no need to do things according to China's wishes. This doesn't even need clarifying. It depends on how many candidates enter parliament and whom the voters prioritize. If people choose not to vote for certain individuals and then complain when representatives they dislike are elected, they cannot blame others. A citizen has rights. If they don't take their chance when they have it, there is no reason to address their complaints later that the outcome doesn't suit them."

Currently, Phases 1 and 2 of the election have been completed. The remaining Phase 3 is scheduled to be held on January 25 in 63 townships.