Facts

• The UK and Canada have joined the US in opposing plans by Myanmar's military junta to hold polls, claiming that a vote without political parties — which together won 89% of the seats in the 2020 election — risks aggravating unrest and violence.
• Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said Thursday that the self-governing island will continue to observe the junta's plans and "advocate for human rights protection and democracy in Myanmar."
• This comes as Myanmar media reported that a pro-junta lobbyist had met with two Japanese opposition lawmakers in Tokyo on Sept. 19 to gather support for the regime's planned election.
• Though the election has been postponed until at least 2025, Myanmar has reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding with its longtime partner Russia for cooperation between their election commissions.
• Recently, while junta-appointed Union Election Commission Chief Thein Soe observed local polls in Russia, an official visited China to examine its efforts at state-building and party-building.
• Meanwhile, the acting leader of the exiled National Unity Government claimed that resistance forces control more than half of the country's territory.