Myanmar is holding its first elections since the 2021 military coup, which ended a period of democratic rule. The upcoming polls, beginning December 28, are viewed by international observers and the UN as potentially not free or fair, with over 30,000 political opponents detained since the coup. Some representatives have called the elections a "sham." The 2021 coup followed a history of military rule and a gradual transition to a military-dominant civilian parliament starting in 2011. The upheaval has also impacted India's northeast and deepened China's presence in Southeast Asia.