John Anderson speaks with David Eubank and Dr. Sean Turnell about the realities of China's involvement in Myanmar’s civil war following their 2021 military coup and why it matters for Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. They reflect on Eubank's first-hand experience providing humanitarian relief at the front line of guerilla warfare in the jungle, and Turnell's harrowing ordeal as a political prisoner for 650 days under the military regime. They explore Myanmar’s struggle for freedom, the staggering human cost of resistance, and the courage of those who continue to serve amid war and persecution. The discussion calls for urgent attention to the expansion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Russia’s growing footprint in the region. The crisis in Myanmar is not isolated but emblematic of the moral test facing free societies—whether they will stand with those who fight for liberty under tyranny. This is a sobering reminder of the need for moral resolve and principled leadership in an increasingly dangerous world.  Dave Eubank is a former U.S. Special Forces soldier who has spent nearly three decades on the front lines of some of the world’s most brutal conflicts. He is the founder of the Free Burma Rangers and continues to deliver humanitarian aid in active war zones alongside his family. Sean Turnell is an Australian economist and former economic policy advisor to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar. He spent 650 days in a Myanmar prison and wrote about the experience in his book An Unlikely Prisoner: How an Eternal Optimist Found Hope in Myanmar’s Most Notorious Jail. Sign up to John's newsletter here: https://johnanderson.net.au/contact/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Conversations feature John Anderson, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, interviewing the world's foremost thought leaders about today's pressing social, cultural and political issues. John believes proper, robust dialogue is necessary if we are to maintain our social strength and cohesion. As he puts it; "You cannot get good public policy out of a bad public debate." If you value this discussion and want to see more like it, make sure you subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtnYSEGViOnb7k8ezUaWUww?sub_confirmation=1 And stay right up to date with all the conversations by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://johnanderson.net.au/contact/ Follow John on X: https://x.com/JohnAndersonAC Follow John on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnandersonac Follow John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnandersonac/ Support the channel: https://johnanderson.net.au/support/ Website: https://johnanderson.net.au/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Qh2fEsC7nEVxXxQzwTv54 2QH0QLLWRVNX5LFA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Sean on X: https://x.com/SeanTurnell Follow Dave on X: https://x.com/DaveEubankFBR Free Burma Rangers website: https://www.freeburmarangers.org/