Myanmar Armed Group Seizes China-Myanmar Border Crossing

In Myanmar, an armed group belonging to an ethnic minority has taken control of a strategic border crossing to China from the ruling junta, as reported by local media and a security source on Sunday.

Ongoing clashes in Myanmar northern Shan state, near the Chinese border, have been fueled by an offensive launched by an alliance of three ethnic minority groups against the military since October. This alliance, comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Arakan Army (AA), and Ta ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), has successfully seized numerous military positions and a town crucial for trade with China, impacting commerce routes for the financially strained junta.

The recent offensive saw the MNDAA, one of the allied groups, taking control of the Kyin San Kyawt border gate, according to a media outlet affiliated with the group. The alliance, including the AA and TNLA, reportedly secured additional positions in the border trade zone following the assault that began on Friday.

The Kyin San Kyawt border gate, a significant trading point along the Myanmar-China border, had its flag raised by the MNDAA, according to a security source cited by AFP. Reopened in 2022 after pandemic-related closures, the border crossing plays a crucial role in trade between Myanmar and China.

Earlier in the week, Zaw Min Tun, the junta spokesman, attributed the destruction of approximately 120 trucks near the border crossing to armed groups. This escalation in hostilities has further strained Myanmar already fragile economy, causing damage to vital cross-border commerce and depriving the military of much-needed taxes and foreign exchange.

Reports indicate that goods passing through the Kyin San Kyawt crossing include machinery, electrical appliances, agricultural tractors, and consumer items. The conflict has significant implications for the economic landscape and security in the region.