Editing Myanmar (section)

=== Civil wars ===
{{main|Internal conflict in Myanmar}}
[[Civil war]]s have been a constant feature of Myanmar's socio-political landscape since the attainment of independence in 1948. These wars are predominantly struggles for ethnic and sub-national autonomy, with the areas surrounding the ethnically Bamar central districts of the country serving as the primary geographical setting of conflict. Foreign journalists and visitors require a special travel permit to visit the areas in which Myanmar's civil wars continue.<ref>{{cite web|title=Restricted Areas in Burma|url=http://www.tourismburma.com/restricted-areas-in-burma/|publisher=Tourism Burma|access-date=27 March 2013|year=2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102230338/http://www.tourismburma.com/restricted-areas-in-burma/|archive-date=2 January 2013}}</ref>

In October 2012, the ongoing conflicts in Myanmar included the [[Kachin conflict]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Ethnic Rifts Strain Myanmar as It Moves Toward Democracy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/world/asia/ethnic-rifts-strain-myanmar-as-it-moves-toward-democracy.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=4 April 2013 |author=Fuller, Thomas |access-date=25 February 2017 |archive-date=22 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722151744/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/world/asia/ethnic-rifts-strain-myanmar-as-it-moves-toward-democracy.html |url-status=live }}</ref> between the Pro-Christian [[Kachin Independence Army]] and the government;<ref name=ChristianVsGovt>{{cite news|title=Displaced by fighting, villagers take shelter in Hpakant|url=http://www.dvb.no/news/displaced-by-fighting-villagers-take-shelter-in-hpakant/23955|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127023044/http://www.dvb.no/news/displaced-by-fighting-villagers-take-shelter-in-hpakant/23955|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 November 2012|access-date=27 March 2013|newspaper=Democratic Voice of Burma|date=25 September 2012|author=Nadi, Nang Mya}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2012/10/20121031172469210.html|title=Blood and Gold: Inside Burma's Hidden War|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=4 October 2012|access-date=5 January 2013|archive-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101175348/https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2012/10/20121031172469210.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> a civil war between the [[Rohingya]] Muslims,<ref name="lan">{{cite book |last=Simpson |first=Andrew |title=Language and National Identity in Asia |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-19-922648-1 |location=United Kingdom |page=267}}</ref> and the government and non-government groups in [[Rakhine State]];<ref>{{cite news|title=About 75,000 Rohingyas in Myanmar camps: Refugee International|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/about-75000-rohingyas-in-myanmar-camps-refugee-international/article3948606.ece|access-date=27 March 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=29 September 2012|location=Chennai, India|archive-date=8 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208141327/http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/about-75000-rohingyas-in-myanmar-camps-refugee-international/article3948606.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> and a conflict between the [[Shan people|Shan]],<ref name=ShanVsGovt>{{cite web|title=Supporting Human Rights in Burma|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2012/11/09/supporting-human-rights-burma|access-date=27 March 2013|author=Power, Samantha|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|date=9 November 2012|archive-date=22 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122060757/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2012/11/09/supporting-human-rights-burma|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/10/201210285232434409.html|title=Myanmar Shan refugees struggle at Thai border|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=2 October 2012|access-date=5 January 2013|archive-date=22 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422154430/https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/10/201210285232434409.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Lahu people|Lahu]], and [[Karen people|Karen]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Karen fighters and Burma Army soldiers killed over ceasefire breach|url=http://karennews.org/2012/03/karen-fighters-and-burma-army-soldiers-killed-over-ceasefire-breech.html/|access-date=27 March 2013|newspaper=Karen News|date=16 March 2012|author=Saw Khar Su Nyar (KIC)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615153917/http://karennews.org/2012/03/karen-fighters-and-burma-army-soldiers-killed-over-ceasefire-breech.html/|archive-date=15 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irinnews.org/report/95008/MYANMAR-Karen-groups-cautious-on-peace-initiative |title=Myanmar: Karen groups cautious on peace initiative |agency=[[The New Humanitarian|IRIN]] |date=5 March 2012 |access-date=5 January 2013 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101072043/http://www.irinnews.org/report/95008/myanmar-karen-groups-cautious-on-peace-initiative |url-status=live }}</ref> minority groups, and the government in the eastern half of the country. In addition, [[al-Qaeda]] signalled an intention to become involved in Myanmar.<ref>{{cite news|title=Concern in India as Al Qaeda announces new India front|url=http://www.myanmarnews.net/index.php/sid/225407619|date=4 September 2014|access-date=6 September 2014|publisher=Myanmar News.Net|archive-date=6 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406002614/http://www.myanmarnews.net/index.php/sid/225407619|url-status=live}}</ref>

Armed conflict between [[Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army|ethnic Chinese rebels]] and the [[Myanmar Armed Forces]] resulted in the [[2015 Kokang offensive|Kokang offensive]] in February 2015. The conflict had forced 40,000 to 50,000 civilians to flee their homes and seek shelter on the Chinese side of the border.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 February 2015 |title=Tens of thousands flee war, airstrikes in Kokang region |url=http://www.dvb.no/news/tens-thousands-flee-war-airstrikes-kokang-region/48271 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328223618/http://www.dvb.no/news/tens-thousands-flee-war-airstrikes-kokang-region/48271 |archive-date=28 March 2015 |access-date=31 March 2015 |work=[[Democratic Voice of Burma]]}}</ref> During the incident, the government of China was accused of giving military assistance to the [[Kokang Chinese|ethnic Chinese]] rebels.<ref>"[http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/kokang-02132015185129.html Myanmar Kokang Rebels Deny Receiving Chinese Weapons] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511065757/http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/kokang-02132015185129.html |date=11 May 2019 }}". [[Radio Free Asia]].</ref> Clashes between Burmese troops and local insurgent groups have continued, fuelling tensions between China and Myanmar.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lintner |first=Bertil |author-link=Bertil Lintner |date=5 April 2017 |title=A Chinese war in Myanmar |url=https://asiatimes.com/2017/04/chinese-war-myanmar/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |website=Asia Times |language=en-US |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621214332/https://asiatimes.com/2017/04/chinese-war-myanmar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>