The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), a powerful ethnic armed organization that helped oust junta forces from northern Shan State, signed a truce with the regime during talks in Kunming, Yunnan Province, on Saturday, according to the Chinese government.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told media during Monday’s regular briefing that the two sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire during their seventh round of China-brokered peace talks.
“De-escalating tensions in northern Myanmar serves the common interests of all parties in Myanmar and regional countries, and is conducive to ensuring the safety and security, stability and development of the China-Myanmar border area,” the spokesperson said.
Further details of the ceasefire were not disclosed, and official statements on the truce have yet to be issued by the Myanmar regime and MNDAA.
The ceasefire followed months of Chinese pressure on the ethnic army to halt its offensive against the regime. Beijing closed its borders with northern Shan State, cutting supplies to citizens in MNDAA territory. It also pressed the powerful United Wa State Army (UWSA) in eastern Shan to stop supplying MNDAA-controlled areas.
The pressure peaked in late October, when Chinese authorities placed MNDAA leader Peng Daren under house arrest in Kunming after his meeting there with China’s special envoy to Myanmar. Beijing claims the MNDAA chief is in China for medical care.
After the ceasefire agreement was signed on Saturday, the UWSA reopened its border gates to MNDAA-controlled Kokang in northern Shan State.
The ethnic Brotherhood Alliance of the MNDAA, Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA) joined People’s Defense Forces under the civilian National Unity Government to launch Operation 1027 in northern Shan State in October 2023.
The alliance seized several towns and major trade routes with China, before halting the operation in January last year after signing a China-brokered ceasefire with the regime.
However, the resistance offensive resumed in late June following a series of junta air and artillery strikes on areas under the ethnic armies’ control.
The ethnic alliance has so far liberated most of northern Shan State, seizing at least 25 towns and townships including the capital Lashio and its Northeastern Command.