Talks between the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Military Junta, facilitated by China, have ended without any concrete outcomes, according to TNLA sources.
The negotiations, held in Kunming, China, began on February 16 and marked the first direct meeting between the two sides. The TNLA delegation was led by Lieutenant General Tar Gu Jar, while the junta was represented by Lieutenant General Ko Ko Oo, head of the No. 1 Special Operations Bureau.
According to TNLA sources, the junta primarily focused on reclaiming lost territories, while TNLA reaffirmed its demand for the establishment of a Ta’ang State.
“They kept pushing for territorial handover, while we insisted on Ta’ang State formation. But no agreement was reached,” a TNLA source said.
Despite ongoing talks in China, the junta launched airstrikes on at least four TNLA-controlled villages in Nawnghkio Township, including Nawnghswe and Ohnmathee, on February 17.
Major General Tar Bone Kyaw, a key TNLA leader, previously warned that the junta’s strategy mirrored its approach with the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), where high-level negotiations were accompanied by intensified military offensives on the ground.
“This round of talks won’t resolve anything immediately, but China will likely release a statement in its own terms, just as it did with the MNDAA deal,” a military analyst commented.
In December 2024, under Chinese mediation, the MNDAA and the junta agreed to a ceasefire following negotiations. Reports indicate that China is also attempting to broker a meeting between the junta and the Arakan Army (AA) in March.
