Latest news with #MyanmarNationalDemocraticAllianceArmy
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
China urges citizens to flee Myanmar conflict zones
FILE PHOTO: This photo taken on September 10, 2024 shows vendors preparing to rebuild their stalls at a market area in Lashio in Myanmar's northern Shan state, after the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army seized the town from Myanmar's military in August. The Chinese Embassy warned that there is currently a high security risk in areas such as Lashio. - AFP YANGON: On August 6, the Chinese embassy in Myanmar issued a warning on the embassy's WeChat social network for Chinese citizens from Lashio and other places to move to a place or places away from conflict zones. In a statement, the Chinese Embassy, warned that there is currently a high security risk in areas such as Lashio, Shan State in northern Myanmar. Therefore, Chinese nationals from Lashio and other places should promptly report their personal information to the embassy and consulate in Myanmar, strengthen security awareness; avoid risks and relocate as soon as possible; move to other places or away from conflict zones; and ensure personal and property safety. In addition, the embassy has informed Chinese citizens to seek timely assistance from the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar and the Mandalay Consulate in case of emergency. On July 25, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that China is closely monitoring the situation in northern Myanmar as well as border security, so that it will not affect Chinese projects and residents of border areas. China called for relevant organisations to negotiate and stop fighting so as to settle disputes in a peaceful manner and reduce tension; to continue the peace talks and maintain the momentum of the ceasefire and peace talks. - Eleven Media/ANN
Gulf Today
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Myanmar rebels to hand key city back to junta
A Myanmar ethnic minority armed group is preparing to hand a captured city back to the military in a Beijing-brokered deal, China's foreign ministry said Tuesday, as residents reported junta troops already returning. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) ousted Myanmar's military from the city of Lashio in August 2024, capturing their northeastern command and a key trade route to China. Analysts say it was the worst strategic loss the military suffered since seizing power in a 2021 coup that sparked a civil war pitting the generals against anti-coup fighters and long-active ethnic armed groups. But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters the MNDAA is set to relinquish the city to the military without firing a shot. 'At the joint invitation of both sides, China recently dispatched a ceasefire monitoring team to Lashio, Myanmar, to oversee the ceasefire between the Myanmar military and the MNDAA and to witness the smooth and orderly handover of Lashio's urban area,' he said. China is a major ally and arms supplier of the junta but also maintains ties with ethnic rebel groups that hold territory near its border like the MNDAA, which can muster around 8,000 fighters. Monitors have said the fall of Lashio — around 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Chinese territory — was a step too far for Beijing, which balked at the prospect of instability on its borders. The MNDAA has not commented on the handover and a spokesman for Myanmar's military could not be reached by AFP for comment. But a military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP: 'Some military officers have been transferred to Lashio in recent days. Some are on their way to Lashio already.' One Lashio resident this week told AFP they had been turned away by an MNDAA checkpoint outside a hotel, after being told members of the group were meeting Myanmar military officials inside. And a spokesman for the Lashio office of another ethnic armed organisation, allied with the MNDAA, told AFP they were 'seeing military vehicles in town'. In late 2023, the MNDAA and two other ethnic rebel groups began a combined offensive which seized swathes of Myanmar's northern Shan state, including lucrative ruby mines and trade links. Beijing has long been eyeing the territory for infrastructure investment under its trillion-dollar Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. Agence France-Presse
The Star
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
China to monitor Myanmar ceasefire and witness handover of the state of Lashio
This photo taken on April 9, 2025 shows members of the police force of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) ethnic armed group patrolling in Lashio in Myanmar's northern Shan State. - AFP YANGON: At the joint invitation of the Myanmar government and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), a ceasefire monitoring team has been dispatched to monitor the ceasefire and witness the smooth handover of Lashio, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun. At a regular press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry on April 22, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that the handover of Lashio was the result of China's mediation and that China had recently sent a ceasefire monitoring team to Lashio to carry out ceasefire work. When asked whether the above-mentioned circumstances were true and whether this was a breach of China's promise not to interfere in Myanmar's affairs, he said, "China and Myanmar are traditional partners, and maintaining peace and stability in northern Myanmar is in the interests of both countries and the two peoples. China respects Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity. In line with the wishes and requests of relevant organisations on Myanmar, China has been actively supporting Myanmar in promoting the peace process in northern Myanmar." Guo Jiakun said that in order to implement the agreements reached between the Myanmar government and the MNDAA at the Kunming Peace Talks, China recently dispatched a ceasefire monitoring team to Lashio, Myanmar, at the joint invitation of the two sides. The team will monitor the ceasefire between the Myanmar military and the MNDAA and witness the smooth handover of Lashio. In addition, Guo Jiakun explained to reporters that both sides expressed their appreciation and gratitude for China's positive role in maintaining peace and stability in northern Myanmar. Guo Jiakun also said that in the next step, China will continue to advance the Kunming Peace Dialogue process, hold talks to stop the fighting in northern Myanmar, and work with various parties in Myanmar to maintain peace and stability on the China-Myanmar border. Currently, since the morning of April 22, the Myanmar military has arrived in Lashio. The armed forces of Myanmar (Tatmadaw) re-entered Lashio after the MNDAA, NSA security officials, and the Chinese ceasefire monitoring delegation met in Lashio in the previous days to discuss handing over Lashio, which had been controlled by the MNDAA, to the Tatmadaw. - Eleven Media/ANN
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Myanmar rebels to hand key city back to junta
A Myanmar ethnic minority armed group is preparing to hand a captured city back to the military in a Beijing-brokered deal, China's foreign ministry said Tuesday. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army ousted Myanmar's military from the city of Lashio in August 2024, capturing their northeastern command and a key trade route to China. Analysts say it was the worst strategic loss the military suffered since seizing power in a 2021 coup that sparked a civil war pitting the generals against anti-coup fighters and long-active ethnic armed groups. But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters the MNDAA is set to relinquish the city to the military. "At the joint invitation of both sides, China recently dispatched a ceasefire monitoring team to Lashio, Myanmar, to oversee the ceasefire between the Myanmar military and the MNDAA and to witness the smooth and orderly handover of Lashio's urban area," he said.
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First Post
22-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Ethnic rebels to return key Myanmar city to junta in China-brokered handover
The deal concerns Lashio, the capital of northern Shan state. It was a major blow to the junta's authority when it fell to the MNDAA— an ethnic Kokang rebel force with around 8,000 fighters read more Myanmar, already rocked by a civil war, has also suffered tragic loss due to an earthquake. Representational image. Reuters A powerful ethnic armed group in Myanmar is preparing to hand back control of a strategically vital city to the country's military under a deal orchestrated by China. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), which captured the northeastern city of Lashio in August 2024, is expected to return it to the military without further conflict, China's foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday. 'At the joint invitation of both sides, China recently dispatched a ceasefire monitoring team to Lashio, Myanmar, to oversee the ceasefire between the Myanmar military and the MNDAA and to witness the smooth and orderly handover of Lashio's urban area,' said foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lashio, the capital of northern Shan state, was a major blow to the junta's authority when it fell to the MNDAA— an ethnic Kokang rebel force with around 8,000 fighters— in what analysts described as the most serious strategic loss for Myanmar's military since its 2021 coup. That putsch ignited a widespread armed uprising, uniting pro-democracy resistance forces with long-standing ethnic insurgents in a fight to unseat the generals. Yet despite battlefield gains, pressure from Beijing— a key ally of the military regime— appears to have forced a reversal. Beijing's balancing act China has long walked a tightrope in Myanmar, supplying weapons to the military while maintaining connections with borderland ethnic armed groups like the MNDAA, whose territory abuts Yunnan province. Lashio sits barely 100 kilometres from Chinese soil and is central to key overland trade routes and prospective Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure investments. The fall of the city was a step too far for Beijing. Observers say it raised fears of instability spilling over into Chinese territory, prompting China to act decisively. After Lashio was captured, China reportedly cut off power, internet, and water supplies to the MNDAA's Kokang heartland, and encouraged peace overtures to the junta. In December, the MNDAA signalled its willingness to hold 'peace talks with the Myanmar army on issues such as Lashio', facilitated by China. The quiet diplomacy culminated this week in what appears to be an unconditional handover. The MNDAA has not publicly commented on the arrangement, and junta officials have remained silent. But on the ground, the transition appears already underway. AFP cited a military source as saying that the junta officers were being transferred to Lashio. A local resident reported being barred from a hotel where MNDAA officials were meeting with military representatives. Another allied ethnic group said military vehicles had begun reappearing in town. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rebels, rubies and realpolitik The city's handover marks a pivotal moment in the civil war, which has seen the military lose ground across large parts of Myanmar. The MNDAA's campaign, launched in late 2023 alongside two other ethnic factions, seized major swathes of Shan state, including areas rich in jade, rubies and cross-border trade revenue. Lashio was the crown jewel— home to the military's northeastern command and a major commercial hub on the road to China. Its loss exposed the military's vulnerabilities and spurred rare concessions. Beijing's involvement shows its strategic stakes. The Lashio deal allows China to preserve relations with both sides of the conflict while projecting itself as a stabilising force. But for Myanmar's fragmented resistance, the deal may serve as a reminder that foreign powers will prioritise their own interests— often at the expense of grassroots democratic aspirations. Ceasefire extended after deadly quake In a separate development, Myanmar's junta on Tuesday extended a temporary nationwide ceasefire to 30 April, citing ongoing relief needs following last month's deadly earthquake. The 7.7-magnitude quake has killed over 3,700 people and devastated swathes of the central belt. The junta claimed the truce— initially announced to ease aid delivery— had 'momentum' for recovery and reconstruction. But conflict monitors and locals in conflict zones report that fighting between the military and resistance forces has not ceased during the declared pause. Myanmar has been plunged into a complex, many-sided civil war since the military overthrew the elected government in February 2021. Over 2.6 million people have been displaced, and the junta's authority continues to erode as resistance groups expand their control— a trend Beijing now appears intent on tempering. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
