Editing Tatmadaw (section)

====Political reforms (2008–2020)====
[[File:Burmese Defence Services personnel, Naypyidaw.jpg|thumb|Air Force personnel|254x254px]]
In 2008, the current [[2008 Constitution of Myanmar|constitution]] was released by the military government for a public referendum. The [[State Peace and Development Council|SPDC]] claimed that the referendum was a success, with an approval rate of 93.82%; however, there has been widespread criticism of the veracity of these claims, partially because [[Cyclone Nargis]] hit Myanmar a few days before the referendum, and the government did not allow postponement of the referendum.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7393648.stm | work=BBC News | title=Burmese voice anger on poll day | date=10 May 2008 | access-date=7 March 2022 | archive-date=14 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414034526/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7393648.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Under the 2008 Constitution, the Tatmadaw is guaranteed 25% of the seats in the parliament, making it difficult to pass meaningful reforms that the Tatmadaw does not approve of.

In 2010, conscription legislation was passed that compelled able-bodied men and women between 18–45 and 18–35 respectively to serve up to three years in the military, or face significant jail sentences.<ref>{{cite news |website=www.dvb.no |first=Joseph |last=Allchin |url=http://www.dvb.no/news/burma-introduces-military-draft/13640 |publisher=[[Democratic Voice of Burma]] |date=10 January 2011 |access-date=2023-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112072052/http://www.dvb.no/news/burma-introduces-military-draft/13640 |archive-date=12 January 2011 |title=Burma introduces military draft }}</ref>

Following Myanmar's political reforms, Myanmar has made substantial shifts in its relations with major powers [[China]], [[Russia]] and the [[United States]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/policy-shifts-in-myanmars-ties-with-major-powers|title=Myanmar and major powers: shifts in ties with China, Russia and the US|date=22 April 2017|work=[[The Straits Times]]|access-date=4 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704092901/https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/policy-shifts-in-myanmars-ties-with-major-powers|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, Lieutenant-General [[Anthony G. Crutchfield|Anthony Crutchfield]], the deputy commander of the [[United States Pacific Command]] (USPACOM), was invited to address his counterparts at the Myanmar National Defence College in [[Naypyidaw]], which trains colonels and other high-ranking military officers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/commentary/us-engage-myanmar.html|title=Opinion {{!}} How Should the US Engage Myanmar?|date=9 February 2018|work=The Irrawaddy|access-date=4 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704123553/https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/commentary/us-engage-myanmar.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2016, Myanmar's [[Assembly of the Union|Union Parliament]] approved a military cooperation agreement with [[Russia]] following a proposal by Deputy Minister of Defence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://english.vov.vn/world/myanmar-parliament-passes-military-cooperation-plan-with-russia-319468.vov|title=Myanmar parliament passes military cooperation plan with Russia|date=12 May 2016|work=VOV – VOV Online Newspaper|access-date=4 July 2018}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In June 2016, Myanmar and Russia signed a defence cooperation agreement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenseworld.net/news/16368/Russia__Myanmar_Sign_Military_Cooperation_Agreement#.WZqBN_yCq5|title=Russia, Myanmar Sign Military Cooperation Agreement|website=www.defenseworld.net|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=21 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021111429/http://www.defenseworld.net/news/16368/Russia__Myanmar_Sign_Military_Cooperation_Agreement#.WZqBN_yCq5|url-status=live}}</ref> The agreement will envisage exchanging information on international security issues, including the fight against terrorism, cooperation in the cultural sphere and leisure of servicemen and their families, along with exchanging experience in peacekeeping activities.

Moreover, in response to Naypyidaw's post-2011 political and economic reforms, [[Australia]] re-established a ‘normal’ bilateral relationship with Myanmar to support democratisation and reform. In June 2016, the [[Australian Federal Police]] signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with its Myanmar counterparts aimed at enhancing [[transnational crime]] cooperation and intelligence sharing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1718/Quick_Guides/Myanmar|title=Defence cooperation with Myanmar—Australia and other countries: a quick guide|website=www.aph.gov.au|language=en-AU|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704092900/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1718/Quick_Guides/Myanmar|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2017, the US imposed sanctions on General [[Maung Maung Soe (general)|Maung Maung Soe]], a general of Western Myanmar Command who oversaw the [[Rohingya conflict|military's crackdown]] in Rakhine State. The Tatmadaw had sentenced seven soldiers to 10-year prison terms for killing 10 Rohingya men in Rakhine in September 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/us-house-backs-measures-sanction-myanmars-military-nudge-gem-sector-reform.html|title=US House Backs Measures to Sanction Myanmar's Military, Nudge Gem Sector Reform|date=25 May 2018|work=The Irrawaddy|access-date=4 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704063606/https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/us-house-backs-measures-sanction-myanmars-military-nudge-gem-sector-reform.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2019 UN report revealed the degree to which the country's military uses its own businesses, foreign companies and arms deals to support, away from the public eye, a “brutal operations” against ethnic groups that constitute “serious crimes under international law”, bypassing civilian oversight and evading accountability.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/08/1043701|title=Myanmar companies bankroll 'brutal operations' of military, independent UN experts claim in new report|date=5 August 2019|access-date=9 August 2019|archive-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809112445/https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/08/1043701|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2020, the Tatmadaw accused [[China]] for arming rebel groups in the country's frontier areas.<ref>{{cite web|title=After ASEAN & India, Now Myanmar Accuses China Of Creating Trouble On The Border|url=https://eurasiantimes.com/now-myanmar-accuses-china-for-creating-trouble-in-the-country/|access-date=16 July 2020|website=EurAsian Times|date=30 June 2020|archive-date=24 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724122937/https://eurasiantimes.com/now-myanmar-accuses-china-for-creating-trouble-in-the-country/|url-status=live}}</ref>