An alliance of rebel groups in Myanmar claims to have taken control of the town of Laukkai on the border with China.
The alliance, which consists of rebel groups from several of the country’s minority groups, says that the military junta’s headquarters in the city has surrendered. Many junta soldiers, including some officers, have been disarmed and taken prisoner, according to the statement.
The military junta has not commented on the information.
Since October, fierce fighting has raged between the military junta that rules Myanmar and the armed alliance. Laukkai is the latest town to fall to the rebels. They now control several border areas in the northeast, which threatens the military junta’s important trade with China.
China said earlier in December that it had brokered a temporary ceasefire, but the fighting has continued. In late December, Beijing urged Chinese citizens to leave the conflict-torn border region.
The military in Myanmar seized power in a coup in February 2021.