China Reopens Key Border Gates in Myanmar’s Kachin State

The Irrawaddy

China has reopened four border gates with Myanmar in Kachin State, all located in territory now controlled by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), marking a significant shift after nearly a year of closure.

The gates—linking to Kanpaikti, Laiza, Mongjaryang and Lweje—were shut by Beijing in an effort to pressure the ethnic armed group to halt its offensive against Myanmar’s military regime. Kanpaikti and Lweje, the largest trade hubs in the region, were seized by the KIA and its allies in late 2024 and early 2025 respectively.

KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu confirmed the reopening but denied any formal agreement with China. “They closed them first and now they’ve reopened them. We didn’t make any deal. We just said the closure was hurting people,” he told The Irrawaddy.

Despite the reopening, China continues to restrict exports of electronics and fuel. Only food, cement, iron and other construction materials are currently permitted across the border. Talks are ongoing to reopen additional checkpoints.

The KIA’s political wing, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), has been in dialogue with Chinese officials to facilitate trade, particularly in food products. Laiza, the KIA’s headquarters, and Mongjaryang were already under their control prior to the current conflict. The remaining gates—Phimaw, Pangwar, Kangfan, Parjawng and Man Wein Gyi—are also under KIA control.

Some of these crossings, notably Pangwar and Phimaw, are used for rare earth exports, while Kanpaikti and Lweje serve as official trade routes between Myanmar and China.

Since December 2024, the KIA and its allies have captured 13 towns in Kachin State, securing control over the entire Chinese border and expanding into northern Shan State. The reopening of these gates signals a pragmatic shift in China’s approach, prioritising regional stability and trade access over political leverage.

-2025-10-28