After peace talks between the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and junta broke down the junta launched an airstrike on Naungcho (Nawnghkio), a TNLA-controlled town in Shan State, on 19 February 2025.
After Chinese mediated peace talks being held in Kunming, China broke down on 17 February, the junta launched an airstrike on Station Ward and the People’s Hospital in Naungcho Town, an area where there was no fighting, at 8:00 pm on 19 February. Three civilians were killed and a further four were injured.
The TNLA had made three demands at the peace talks. These were: a ceasefire where both sides would keep their current positions and territory; a halt to all military activities, including drone bombings, artillery shelling, and airstrikes; the free passage of goods and medicine between the territories under the control of each side. The junta refused to accept these demands and the talks collapsed on 17 February.
U Than Soe Naing, a political analyst, said there is a high possibility that junta airstrikes could intensify in TNLA-controlled areas following the collapse of talks.
He said to Shan Herald: “When negotiations fail, airstrikes are likely to escalate, as this is a common practice of the junta. Although China has urged the junta to refrain from launching airstrikes, it has no effective means of preventing them, making further airstrikes highly likely.”
The TNLA is a member of the Three Brotherhood Alliance that launched the 1027 offensive against the junta on 27 October 2023. But, the TNLA and the junta have not fought each other since October 2024, though the junta has continued unilaterally launching airstrikes and artillery attacks on TNLA-controlled areas.
Even whilst the peace talks were ongoing the junta fired artillery into four TNLA controlled villages in Naungcho Township that destroyed a school, on 15 February.
Then on 16 February, the junta also launched an airstrike on TNLA territory between Kutkai and Namtu causing concern amongst the locals.
On 10 February, a junta airstrike on TNLA-controlled Mogok Town in Mandalay Region killed five locals and injured 19 others.
The TNLA captured Thibaw (Hsipaw) Town in northern Shan State on 12 August 2024. After hostilities ceased, residents started returning to the town in October 2024. With the collapse of the peace talks, residents are now concerned that the junta will target Thibaw with airstrikes.
A displaced Thibaw resident currently taking refuge in Taunggyi City, southern Shan State said: “All TNLA-controlled areas are at risk. The junta has a history of using airstrikes as a pressure tactic when negotiations fail. The people of Thibaw have only just returned to their homes, and now they face new danger. All I can do is pray for their safety.”
The TNLA has warned the public in areas that it controls to watch out and prepare for possible airstrikes as the junta frequently targets civilian areas for airstrikes, even when there is no ongoing fighting in those areas.
