A powerful rebel group, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), has captured the strategic trading town of Kanpaiti in northeastern Myanmar, near the Chinese border. This seizure represents a significant blow to the military-led government, leaving them with control of only one border town, Muse. Kanpaiti's fall deprives the military of potential profits from rare earth mining, a crucial source of minerals for various industries including electric motors, wind turbines, high-tech weapons, and electronics, which are primarily exported to China.
Reports indicate that the KIA took control of Kanpaiti last week, as confirmed by witnesses and local media outlets. Video clips circulating on social media show KIA members raising their flag at the border tunnel to China and capturing a substantial amount of weapons.
The military seized power from the elected government in February 2021, leading to intensified conflicts with long-standing armed militias representing Myanmar's ethnic minority groups. The Tatmadaw, Myanmar's armed forces, have faced unprecedented defeats in recent months, particularly in regions near the Chinese border and in Rakhine state.
The KIA's advance in Kachin's Special Region 1 has escalated tensions with the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), an ethnic militia allied with the government military. The area is home to over 300 unregulated mines producing rare earth elements, with most of the output sold to China, raising environmental and social concerns.
While the loss of Kanpaiti is a setback for the military, analysts suggest it may not significantly impact the conflict's dynamics. The regime is believed to generate revenue through various means beyond rare earth mining. China, a key player in brokering ceasefires, has been unable to halt the ongoing hostilities between the military and ethnic militias.
The KIA's recent gains in Kachin, including the capture of Kanpaiti, have prompted calls for residents to return. Reports indicate that government troops fled into China for safety, highlighting the complex dynamics of the conflict in Myanmar's border regions.
