The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allies seized Phimaw town on the Chinese border in Chipwi Township on Saturday, while China is calling for peace along the Kachin State frontier.
China blocked the Phihmaw border and other border gates in October and Chinese government representatives recently met the KIA to ask it to stop fighting the regime in northern Myanmar.
The KIA told the Chinese it would attack the regime until military rule ended.
KIA spokesman Colonel Naw But told The Irrawaddy that its troops took complete control of Phimaw on Saturday after seizing the junta-allied Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion 1001 headquarters, the militia’s final stronghold on the Chipwi-Phimaw road.
“BGF forces did their best to defend the town but they retreated. There were a few junta soldiers with the BGF force. The BGF is ethnically Kachin so they don’t really wish to fight us,” said Col Naw Bu.
He added that the KIA is now targeting Ganfai town, which has junta bases, about 14km north of Phimaw on the border.
Warlord Zahkung Tin Ying’s New Democratic Army Kachin forms the BGF.
The BGF was given control of the so-called Kachin State Special Region 1, which includes Chipwi, Tsalaw, Pangwa, Kanpiketi and Waingmaw.
Chipwi and Pangwa are rare earth mining hubs with heavy Chinese investment.
The KIA and allied Kachin People’s Defense Force have recently seized Chipwi, Tsawlaw and Pangwa towns as well as all three BGF battalion headquarters, meaning most of the special region are under KIA control.
The KIA sealed off Zahkung Tin Ying’s empty house in his hometown of Pangwa. The warlord and his family are reportedly sheltering in China.
The KIA is operating with groups loyal the civilian National Unity Government across Kachin State and in northern Sagaing and Mandalay regions and northern Shan State.
It has seized around 11 towns in Kachin State as well as six towns in Sagaing and Mandalay regions and northern Shan State.
