Myanmar Rebel Army Defies Junta and China Over Captured Towns

TNLA

A powerful ethnic armed group in Myanmar has rejected demands from both the military junta and Chinese officials to withdraw from territory it has seized, deepening tensions in the country’s war-torn Shan state.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which has taken control of at least 12 towns in Shan and parts of Mandalay region — including the gem-rich town of Mogok — said it would not relinquish gains made during its decade-long resistance against Myanmar’s military.

At China-brokered talks held in Kunming late April, the junta, backed by Beijing’s diplomatic pressure, pushed the TNLA to retreat from several key towns captured since the 2021 coup. But the TNLA refused.

“We can’t agree to surrender Mogok and other towns. We’re continuing our operations as before,” said TNLA spokesperson Lway Yay Oo during an online press briefing.

Chinese officials, including special envoy Deng Xijun, joined both the TNLA and junta delegations for negotiations. While the TNLA pressed for an end to airstrikes, safe civilian movement, and restored border trade, the junta focused solely on regaining lost ground.

China, which borders the conflict zone and has economic interests in the region, has previously warned rebel groups when clashes threatened to spill across the border. TNLA leaders confirmed they had faced verbal pressure and indirect threats from Chinese authorities in the town of Ruili.

Despite the talks, the junta has continued bombing campaigns in contested areas, including Mogok, Nawnghkio and Kyaukme, forcing thousands of civilians to flee. More details on the humanitarian toll are expected.

The next round of peace negotiations is scheduled for August, though with entrenched positions on both sides, prospects for meaningful progress remain slim. The Chinese embassy in Yangon and junta officials declined to comment on the discussions.

With armed resistance gaining ground and diplomatic efforts faltering, Myanmar’s civil conflict shows little sign of easing — and for communities caught in the crossfire, the cost continues to mount.

-2025-05-06