Chinese nationals still in Laukkai, Burma must leave this border region hit by violent clashes between the Burmese junta and ethnic armed groups as soon as possible, the Chinese embassy in Burma said on Thursday.
Northern Shan State (North) has been the scene of incessant fighting since the Arakan Army (AA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Myanmar National Liberation Army Ta'ang (TNLA) launched an offensive against the central military power have at the end of October.
Ethnic minorities have taken over military positions and border crossings that are crucial to trade with China. Analysts say the offensive represents the biggest military challenge to the junta since it seized power in 2021 at the expense of the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The MNDAA has vowed to retake the town of Laukkai near the Chinese border, run by an army-allied militia and known for its casinos, prostitution and online fraud centers.
“Conflict continues in Laukkai district of Kokang, northern Myanmar, and security risks to those stranded there have increased,” the embassy said on its WeChat account. “The embassy once again reminds Chinese citizens in Laukkai District to evacuate as soon as possible.”
MNDAA-affiliated media said this week that Myanmar's junta had carried out airstrikes in the Kokang region around Laukkai and bombed parts of the city.
AFP has contacted an MNDAA spokesperson for comment.
Earlier this month, Beijing said it had brokered talks between the military and the three ethnic armed groups and reached an agreement on a “temporary ceasefire.”
However, clashes continued in parts of Shan State, with the National People's Liberation Army (NPA) claiming to have captured two more towns in recent days.
Relations between the junta and Beijing, a key ally, have weakened recently as Myanmar's military is unable to combat fraud centers that Beijing says target Chinese citizens.
Analysts say Beijing also has ties with ethnic armed groups in the north of the country, some of which have close cultural ties with China and use Chinese currency and telephone networks in the area they control.
A rare demonstration, which analysts said was approved by the junta, was held in Yangon last month to denounce China's support for ethnic groups.