Myanmar Ethnic Alliance Seizes Major Trading Gate at Chinese Border

The seizure disrupts almost all legal cross-border trade with China, marking a significant economic impact for Myanmar.

An alliance of armed ethnic minority groups in Myanmar has seized the Kyin-San-Kyawt border gate, a major trading gate on the country's northeastern border with China.
The seizure is part of a surprise offensive launched last month against Myanmar's military, and marks the fourth border crossing taken by the alliance forces in a month of intense fighting.
The fighting has stopped almost all legal cross-border trade with China, causing a major economic disruption for Myanmar.
The reported seizure came the same day that China announced it would begin military exercises nearby on its side of the border.
China has urged its nationals to depart for safety back to Chinese territory as alliance forces besiege Laukkaing, a town notorious for hosting major organized criminal enterprises.