A spokesperson for an ethnic minority armed group in Myanmar says China contacted the group before it launched coordinated offensives with other militants against the military.
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, along with two other ethnic minority militant groups, began the joint attacks in the eastern state of Shan in late October.
They have since intensified offensives in tandem with pro-democracy forces. They are fighting against the military of Myanmar that seized power in a coup in 2021.
China’s foreign ministry announced on December 14 that Myanmar’s military and the armed groups agreed to a temporary ceasefire through Beijing’s mediation.
But neither of the warring sides has made an announcement on the deal.
The following day, TNLA publicly released videos and photos purportedly showing weapons they seized after taking control of military facilities in northern Shan state. The group said fighting was still underway.
A TNLA spokesperson told NHK that the militant groups took control of about 50 military facilities this month alone.
He cited the goals of the coordinated attacks: protecting civilian lives and assets, toppling the military junta, and eliminating internet and smartphone-based scam operations.
Chinese scam groups are said to be based in areas of the Shan state near the border with China.
Beijing has repeatedly called on the Myanmar military to crack down on the fraudsters. But the military is alleged to be receiving money in return for protecting them.
The spokesperson said China floated the idea of eliminating the fraud, and that the armed groups decided to go along with the plan. He also said China sought their cooperation in advance of the campaign, and that the groups willingly accepted the proposal.
China has friendly ties with Myanmar’s military. But the spokesperson indicated his view that China knew of the militants’ plan to attack the military, and gave its tacit approval.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231224_02/
Leave a Reply