Myanmar Security Risk Monthly Report (December 2025)
According to the Hanwei International Security Situation Report, a total of 109 representative security incidents were documented in Myanmar in December, an increase of 26 cases compared with November. These incidents resulted in 120 deaths and 265 injuries. Among the categorized security incidents, armed conflicts and shootings accounted for the majority, with most incidents concentrated in Shan State, Mandalay Region and other areas.
Hanwei International's analysis indicates that Myanmar's general election kicked off sequentially on December 28. Despite sporadic bomb attacks attempting to disrupt the smooth progress of the election, the voting process is unstoppable. The future trajectory of Myanmar’s situation will become clear upon the conclusion of the election. Statistics show that compared with the previous month, the number of security incidents, deaths, and injuries all increased. This is mainly due to the rise in the total number of incidents, with heavy casualties caused by intensified armed conflicts and air strikes.
International Attention on Myanmar’s General Election
As of the application deadline on December 12, 2025, Myanmar’s Union Election Commission (UEC) announced that 215 journalists from 61 international media organizations had applied to cover all three phases of the 2025 Multi-Party Democracy General Election. The Commission has accepted and reviewed the applications in accordance with relevant regulations.
While international journalists have been approved to cover the election, official election observer missions from multiple countries have also arrived in succession to prepare for supervision and observation work. On December 22, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, a senior Thai official visiting Tokyo, Japan, formally confirmed that Thailand is preparing to dispatch an Election Observer Mission to Myanmar to monitor the upcoming general election.
On December 24, for the first phase of the 2025 election, nine countries registered to send observers. Embassies of India, Russia, Belarus, the Philippines, Laos, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, and another country will dispatch representatives to participate in the observation work. On December 26, election observer missions from China, Russia, India, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, and other nations arrived in full, ready to witness the general election on December 28.
Despite the absence of Western countries, the on-site presence of two permanent members of the UN Security Council (China and Russia) and two regional powers (India and Vietnam) has provided Myanmar’s military with the "international endorsement" it prioritizes. On December 29, Sholban Kara-Ool, Deputy Speaker of the Russian State Duma and an international observer, highly praised Myanmar’s general election. He noted that with the successful holding of the election, a parliament will be formed and a new government established, which will commit to national peace and stability and build a prosperous new Myanmar.
Accelerated Promotion of Economic Development
On December 2, Myanmar’s official Myanmar Gazette disclosed that to comprehensively and efficiently advance economic cooperation projects with China, the Myanmar government has launched a major initiative—establishing two high-level Implementation Committees.
On December 3, a grand event titled the 2025 Yangon Investment Facilitation Workshop was held at the five-star Wyndham Grand Yangon Hotel. Relevant enterprises and government departments signed and exchanged 24 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in one go.
On December 29, U Han Win Aung, Deputy Minister of Planning and Finance of Myanmar, revealed that the government is stepping up the revision of the Securities Exchange Law 2013. The move aims to meet the standards of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and strive for membership in the organization at an early date. The official stated that the current legal provisions have lagged behind the times, and the amendment is intended to modernize the capital market and pave the way for economic development.
It is reported that the Yangon Region Investment Commission recently approved 8 foreign-funded and joint-venture investment projects at its 11/2025 meeting. The projects include 7 fully foreign-funded industrial projects and 1 joint venture, with a total investment of 12.408 million US dollars, expected to create 6,786 local job opportunities.
The latest Myanmar Economic Monitor Report released by the World Bank shows that despite the negative impacts of Myanmar’s ongoing internal conflicts and the major earthquake in March, the country’s economy is showing signs of recovery. The GDP growth rate is projected to rebound to 3% in the next fiscal year. However, despite the rapid recovery, Myanmar’s economy faces multiple challenges, such as persistent high inflation. The inflation rate remains at 20%, keeping overall prices at a high level. This will increase the livelihood burden of the people and pose hidden risks to economic development.
Escalating Crackdown on Telecom and Online Fraud
On December 9, 8 additional fraud-related buildings at KK Park were demolished, and 232 foreign nationals were arrested. All criminal tools at the scene were incinerated. Among the original 635 illegal structures at KK Park, 341 have been completely dismantled.
On December 10, Myanmar’s National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) officially issued Order No. 52/2025, announcing the establishment of a new high-level body—the Central Committee for Combating Online Fraud and Online Gambling Supervision. This marks that the crackdown on "pig-butchering scams" has been upgraded from a local law enforcement operation to a national-level strategic task.
According to the latest progress report released on December 14, a joint law enforcement team composed of Myanmar’s security forces, administrative agencies, and local authorities launched an unprecedented building demolition operation. Up to that date, 413 buildings at KK Park had been completely torn down.
On December 25, the cleanup operations at Shwe Kokko and KK Park did not halt during the holiday period, but instead entered a "destructive" new phase, with a cumulative total of 494 buildings demolished. As of December 26, 504 buildings have been flattened, with the demolition rate exceeding 79%. The once notorious and labyrinthine KK Park, which terrified countless people, now has less than 20% of its structures remaining, and its complete elimination is imminent.
Persistent Armed Conflicts
On December 3 and 4, intense fighting erupted for two consecutive days in the Bhamo area of Kachin State. The battle for Bhamo has lasted for a full year, causing substantial damage. Intense heavy weapons fire was heard continuously, with the sound of shelling shaking the ground. It was reported that the military had recaptured some previously lost strongholds.
On December 14, a vicious incident occurred in Tabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region, where the People’s Defense Force (PDF) detonated an 80-foot reinforced concrete bridge while retreating. The explosion caused the collapse of the bridge piers, completely cutting off traffic on the Mandalay-Madaya-Tabeikkyin Highway and prohibiting all pedestrian and vehicle passage.
Since the early morning of December 25, in the battle to seize Bhamo Township in northern Myanmar’s Kachin State, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has further intensified its offensive and launched an attack on the Myitkyina Air Force Base. Near Bhamo Township, fierce fighting broke out between the State Administration Council (SAC) forces’ Kalayart 47 Battalion and troops in the 3-mile and 4-mile areas. The SAC side is replenishing supplies and ammunition via air transportation.
At approximately 6:30 a.m. on December 26, armed forces launched simultaneous surprise attacks on the No. 266 Battalion and other military outposts based in Yawnghwe. The military responded with air and artillery fire support. Although the fighting in the Yawnghwe area subsided after 1 p.m., military tensions between the two sides persisted.
On the eve of the election (the night of December 27), five bomb explosions occurred in Myawaddy city, Kayin State, killing 1 person and injuring 10 others. In the early morning of December 28, during the first phase of the election, Mandalay was hit by four rocket attacks, which was confirmed by U Myo Aung, the SAC-appointed Chief Minister of Mandalay Region.
Recently, a working group dispatched by China’s Ministry of Public Security, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from Myanmar and Thailand, launched a new round of concentrated clearance operations against fraud parks in the Myawaddy area of Myanmar. A total of 952 Chinese nationals suspected of telecom fraud were escorted back to China.
Recommendations from Hanwei International: Enhance Proactive Prevention Awareness
Stay Alert to High-Risk Scams: Focus on understanding the latest fraud tactics, including fake investment and financial management schemes, rebate scams for online reviews, impersonation of law enforcement or customer service personnel, and nude chat extortion.
Protect Personal Information: Be cautious when filling in ID card numbers, bank card details, and other sensitive information on unknown links or apps. Properly dispose of courier receipts, bills, and other documents containing personal information.
Utilize Anti-Fraud Tools: Download and register the National Anti-Fraud Center APP, and enable the incoming call and SMS early warning functions.
Emergency Contact Information
Myanmar Police Emergency Hotline: 0095-199
Myanmar Medical Emergency Hotline: 0095-192
Consular Protection and Assistance Hotline of the Chinese Consulate General in Mandalay: 0095-9-259172726
Consular Protection and Assistance Hotline of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar: 0095-9-43209657
24/7 Global Consular Protection and Service Hotline of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 0086-10-12308 or 0086-10-65612308
Charts
Chart 1: Classification of Security Incidents in December
Chart 2: Classification Statistics of Deaths and Injuries in December
Chart 3: Statistics of Security Incidents in Major States/Regions in December
Chart 4: Comparison of Major Security Incident Counts (December vs. November)
