Ceasefire Agreement Officially Reached Between Myanmar Military Junta and Rebel Groups Under Chinese Mediation

The Myanmar military regime and ethnic armed groups, who were engaged in a civil war, have agreed to an official ceasefire under China's mediation.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular briefing on the 12th, "On the 10th and 11th, under China's mediation and facilitation, representatives of the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups including the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and Arakan Army (AA) held peace talks in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, and formally signed a ceasefire agreement."

Spokesperson Mao explained, "Both sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire, troop withdrawal, and to resolve disputes and demands through peaceful means," adding, "Both sides agreed not to harm the safety of residents near the China border and those engaged in business within Myanmar."

He said, "China hopes that all parties in Myanmar will earnestly implement the ceasefire agreement, exercise maximum restraint, and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation to advance the Myanmar peace process," and added, "To this end, China will continue to provide support and play a constructive role to the best of its ability."

Earlier, the Myanmar military claimed that the November 2020 general election, in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide victory, was fraudulent and staged a coup on February 1 of the following year.

Since October last year, a civil war has continued in northern Myanmar after the 'Brotherhood Alliance,' composed of the MNDAA, TNLA, and AA, attacked the Myanmar military.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced on the 14th of last month that during peace talks mediated by China between the Myanmar military government and ethnic armed groups, both sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire and to maintain dialogue.

However, the ceasefire did not last long, and the Myanmar military, pushed back in ground battles, retaliated with airstrikes and shelling.