Myanmar’s Ta’ang army says it won’t give up territory despite junta, Chinese pressure

An ethnic army that has been fighting a 10-year battle against Myanmar’s military in Shan state said it refused a request from the junta to hand back captured territory despite joint pressure from the military regime and China.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA has captured 12 towns in the eastern state and others in Mandalay region, including the ruby-rich town of Mogok.

The TNLA, the armed branch of the Palaung State Liberation Front, said its representatives were invited to several rounds of China-brokered talks in the southwest city of Kunming where junta officials demanded the return of land captured by rebel forces.