How Chinese Intervention Reversed Resistance Gains in Myanmar’s Heartland

China’s intervention in support of Myanmar’s regime in conflicts with ethnic armed groups near its border in northern Shan State has derailed efforts by the People’s Defense Force (PDF)—the armed wing of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG)—and its allies to capture Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city.

PDF groups recently ceded almost all of northern Mandalay to a regime counteroffensive featuring aircraft, drones and munitions almost certainly supplied by China, and troops redeployed from northern Shan following Beijing-brokered ceasefires with local ethnic armies.

As a result, the pro-democracy armed groups lost their chance to seize Mandalay after advancing as far as Patheingyi Township, just 22 km from the city and the junta’s Central Region Military Command.