Jonathan Head

He's very unpopular, even in his own military council now. But we do see China as a crucial player now, looking for a solution. And it doesn't want the military to collapse completely. So there's a lot we can't tell about what happens in the future, even though the military is much weakened. And this will weaken it a lot more.

He's very unpopular, even in his own military council now. But we do see China as a crucial player now, looking for a solution. And it doesn't want the military to collapse completely. So there's a lot we can't tell about what happens in the future, even though the military is much weakened. And this will weaken it a lot more.

There are far more serious considerations, though, for Rakhine State itself. Just one of multiple conflicts in Myanmar is completely cut off. We can't get access. Humanitarian agencies can't get access.

There are far more serious considerations, though, for Rakhine State itself. Just one of multiple conflicts in Myanmar is completely cut off. We can't get access. Humanitarian agencies can't get access.

But we know that the devastating fighting of the last year has caused immense dislocation of people, hundreds of thousands driven from their homes, no aid going in, the UN warning of looming famine. This is a lot for the Arakan army to be taking on. And there will be real problems for the Rohingya minority, those left behind, those who didn't flee in the ethnic cleansing seven years ago.

But we know that the devastating fighting of the last year has caused immense dislocation of people, hundreds of thousands driven from their homes, no aid going in, the UN warning of looming famine. This is a lot for the Arakan army to be taking on. And there will be real problems for the Rohingya minority, those left behind, those who didn't flee in the ethnic cleansing seven years ago.

The Arakan army is backed by the local Rakhine Buddhist population who don't like the Rohingyas. And tension has really risen during this conflict because some Rohingya groups bizarrely have backed the military against the Arakan army, even though it's the military that attacked the Rohingyas seven years ago.

The Arakan army is backed by the local Rakhine Buddhist population who don't like the Rohingyas. And tension has really risen during this conflict because some Rohingya groups bizarrely have backed the military against the Arakan army, even though it's the military that attacked the Rohingyas seven years ago.

So it's a very messy situation and deeply alarming to the humanitarian agencies who are monitoring it. Our Southeast Asia correspondent, Jonathan,

So it's a very messy situation and deeply alarming to the humanitarian agencies who are monitoring it. Our Southeast Asia correspondent, Jonathan,