In a significant setback for Myanmar's military government, it has been confirmed that their forces have withdrawn from Laukkaing, a crucial city on the northeastern border with China. The retrieval comes after an alliance of ethnic armed groups seized control of the city, marking a major defeat for the military government in a string of recent losses. This development underscores the mounting pressure on the government as it simultaneously combats pro-democracy guerrillas following the 2021 military coup and grapples with armed minority groups across the nation.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance, consisting of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, and the Arakan Army, successfully captured Laukkaing. Notably, the MNDAA, comprising the Kokang minority who are of ethnic Chinese origin, played a pivotal role in the offensive. Social media platforms have been flooded with images and videos showcasing a large cache of weapons purportedly captured by the alliance.

Laukkaing serves as the capital of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone, situated in northern Shan state. Major General Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for Myanmar's military government, disclosed to the Popular News Journal on Saturday that the decision to relinquish control of Laukkaing was based on various factors, including the safety of the soldiers' families stationed there. Additionally, the military took into account its relationship with China, which borders Laukkaing. Maintaining good relations with China, a country with ties to both the military and the ethnic alliance, has been a priority for Myanmar.

The fall of Laukkaing has raised concerns as artillery shells fired by the alliance landed in Chinese territory, injuring five individuals. Zaw Min Tun alleged that the alliance intentionally fired the shells and attempted to shift blame onto the military to damage its relationship with China. Beijing has expressed its dissatisfaction over the incident and has been actively seeking an end to the ongoing conflict.

According to a statement released by the Three Brotherhood Alliance on Friday, the entirety of the Kokang region is now a "Military Council-free area," alluding to Myanmar's ruling junta. The alliance claimed that 2,389 military personnel, including six brigadier generals, along with their families, had surrendered by Friday and were safely evacuated. Various video clips circulating on social media depict the soldiers and their families being transported in different vehicles. Reports suggest that many of them were taken to Lashio, the capital of Shan's northern region, under an agreement with the MNDAA to facilitate their repatriation.

It remains uncertain if the Three Brotherhood Alliance will extend their offensive beyond Shan state. Nevertheless, they have vowed to continue their fight against military rule. The alliance framed their offensive as a battle against military oppression and an attempt to eradicate major criminal enterprises in the region. China has supported these efforts, particularly in combating cyber scams that have impacted numerous Chinese nationals. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of these individuals have been repatriated to China as a result of joint efforts between China and the alliance.

Ultimately, the offensive orchestrated by the Three Brotherhood Alliance aimed not only to challenge military dominance but also to regain control of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone from a rival Kokang group supported by the military government. Peng Deren, the MNDAA commander, emphasized in a New Year's speech published by The Kokang, an affiliated online media site, that the alliance successfully seized over 250 military targets and five border crossings with China. In addition, they raided more than 300 cyberscam centers and repatriated over 40,000 Chinese individuals involved in these operations.