"China Speeds Up Railway That Will Cut Swathe Through Myanmar", The Irrawaddy, 20 Feb 2026

The 330‑km Dali–Ruili Railway—described by Chinese engineers as the world’s most difficult railway to build—is entering its final and most technically demanding phase.

An analyst of China-Myanmar relations said China is preparing to get ready on its side to link with the Muse–Mandalay railway.

During Chinese New Year celebrations in Yangon on Feb. 14, junta No. 2 Soe Win touted progress on Beijing‑backed megaprojects, claiming construction of the Muse–Mandalay railway was already underway. He framed it as the first step toward a Kyaukphyu–Kunming connection under the China–Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC).

The claim was swiftly challenged by observers, who noted that large swathes of the proposed route lie outside the junta’s control. Several key towns are held by ethnic armed groups, and the corridor has seen some of the fiercest fighting since the 2021 coup. This raises serious doubts about security, land acquisition, and whether the project is feasible at all.

The railway was first proposed in 2011 under the Thein Sein administration but shelved after strong public opposition in 2014. The route was intended to follow the path of the existing Sino‑Myanmar oil and gas pipelines.

Despite the suspension, China has continued building its own section of the route.