Myanmar Rebels and Junta Sign Chinese-Mediated Ceasefire

A major ethnic rebel group in Myanmar announced Wednesday that it has signed a ceasefire with the country’s military junta following China-mediated negotiations, easing months of heavy fighting in Myanmar’s northeast near the Chinese border, the Associated Press reported.  

The deal with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) represents a significant win for Myanmar’s military government, which has regained territory ahead of the elections scheduled to begin on Dec. 28. Critics argue that the elections, from which the main opposition parties are excluded, are an attempt by the junta to legitimize the military’s rule. 

The deal to halt the fighting was signed during talks mediated by China on Monday and Tuesday in Kunming, a Chinese provincial capital about 250 miles from the border with Myanmar. It took effect on Wednesday, according to a statement by the TNLA.  

The announcement followed the rebels’ relinquishing control of Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, and Hsipaw – three important towns on a key highway linking central Myanmar to China – after a heavy military offensive by the army. 

The TNLA also said it intends to withdraw troops from Mogok, the ruby-mining center in the upper Mandalay region, and the neighboring town of Momeik in the northern part of Shan state as part of the deal. The two towns had been under the TNLA’s control since July last year. 

In return, Myanmar’s junta is to halt its ground offensives and airstrikes on the group’s remaining territories, according to the TNLA, which has no effective defense against airstrikes.  

The TNLA is part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which also includes the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army. For decades, they have been fighting for increased autonomy from Myanmar’s central government and have a loose alliance with the pro-democracy resistance groups that arose following the military takeover four years ago. 

In the past two years, the alliance captured and controlled important parts of northeastern Myanmar near the Chinese border and of western Myanmar. The TNLA alone captured 12 towns in an offensive. 

Their advance slowed after a series of Chinese-brokered ceasefires earlier this year, which allowed the army to retake major cities. 

China, which has significant economic and geopolitical interests in Myanmar, is worried about instability along its borders. It is also the most important foreign ally of Myanmar’s junta, which gained power after ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.  

The military takeover triggered nationwide peaceful protests that escalated into civil war.