China fires at junta jets near Laiza

China’s border guards opened fire on Thursday to deter Myanmar junta warplanes that had strayed close to its airspace while circling the Kachin Independence Army’s headquarters in Laiza, residents and the ethnic armed group reported.

The overflights came after KIA-led forces destroyed or sank around 20 regime vessels in two supply flotillas bound for Bhamo earlier this month. Colonel Naw Bu, the KIA spokesperson, said he heard shots from the Chinese side as a junta aircraft flew along the frontier.

Laiza residents confirmed jets had been circling since Wednesday, forcing schools to close. The KIA and its allies have urged civilians to dig bomb shelters, avoid gatherings and remain on high alert amid fears of airstrikes.

Although no bombs were dropped on Laiza itself, regime aircraft reportedly struck KIA territory in Hpakant Township on Thursday evening. The junta has relied heavily on air power to protect its river convoys, which carried rations, weapons and reinforcements.

The clashes along the Irrawaddy saw nearly 200 regime personnel and family members surrender, underscoring the scale of the resistance’s success. Yet the latest aerial manoeuvres highlight the risk of escalation spilling across borders, with China now directly signalling its intolerance of incursions near its frontier.

The situation in Kachin remains tense, with both sides bracing for further confrontation.

-2026-09-27