Is TNLA, Under Chinese Pressure, Conceding Northern Shan Gateway to the Regime?

Most of the residents of Nawnghkio have fled the town as regime military columns have advanced to within 10 kilometers, triggering sporadic clashes with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

Nawnghkio Town is strategically located on the main Mandalay-Lashio-Muse trade route linking Myanmar and China and is a gateway connecting the Mandalay region as well as southern Shan State to northern Shan State — areas largely under the control of the Brotherhood Alliance since its launch of Operation 1027 in October 2023. The TNLA is a member of the Alliance along with two other powerful ethnic armies.