An alliance of armed groups in Myanmar has agreed to extend a ceasefire with the junta in northern Shan state, citing pressure from Beijing. This alliance, comprised of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), initially agreed to a four-day ceasefire from July 14-18, which has now been extended to July 31. A third member of the alliance, the Arakan Army, did not participate in the ceasefire agreement.
The alliance’s fighters have recently gained control of territory from the military along a strategic highway connecting to China. The TNLA leader, requesting anonymity, stated that “China put a lot of pressure on us to have a ceasefire immediately.” He added, “Therefore, we have to do it as we can’t avoid it.”
Despite the extended ceasefire, the alliance has issued a warning. If junta troops launch offensives against their troops or continue bombing civilians, they will “attack back.” The leader’s statement reflects the precarious situation in Shan state, which has been experiencing intense fighting since late last month. The “Three Brotherhood Alliance” renewed an offensive against junta troops along the road leading to China’s Yunnan province. These recent clashes have undermined a previous truce brokered by Beijing in January, which had temporarily halted an earlier advance by the three groups.
China, a key ally and arms supplier to the junta, also maintains ties with ethnic armed groups in Myanmar that control territory near its border. The civil war in Myanmar began following the military’s coup in 2021, which ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government. Myanmar’s border regions are home to numerous ethnic armed groups who have been engaged in conflict with the military since independence from Britain in 1948. These groups fight for autonomy and control over valuable resources. Some groups have provided shelter and training to newer “People’s Defence Forces” (PDFs) that have emerged to oppose the military after the 2021 coup.
