Taping, a border checkpoint between the ceasefire group National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)'s main base Mongla and Burma Army controlled Kengtung in Shan State East, which had been closed for almost three weeks, is reopened for all trade, local sources reported.

"But the junta gave no explanation why they lifted it [the closure]. To date we don't know exactly why they had closed and why they have reopened," an NDAA officer said.

The checkpoint was opened last week, following the Shan New Year festival held in Mongla, for passage of goods to flow normally as before. But foreign tourists coming from Thailand are still being banned from visiting the city. The trade between Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) controlled Laiza and junta-held Myitkyina to China was also allowed to resume on 13 December, following complaints by the Chinese embassy in Rangoon to the junta, according to Irrawaddy.

Taping that divides Mongla, under the control of National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) and Burma Army controlled Kengtung, was ordered closed for trade coming from both sides Mongla and Kengtung by the Burma Army's Triangle Region Command (TRC) on 23 November. The directive to close Mongla for tourism came later on 26 November.

Goods coming from Thailand and China go through the Taping checkpoint.

Colonel Khin Maung Htwe, Military Affairs Security (MAS) chief in Kengtung, said earlier that the reason for the closure was because Chinese goods coming through Mongla side were considered illegal since the junta's immigration and customs officials were no longer in Mongla, which is located opposite China's Daluo.

The NDAA has been at loggerheads with the Burma Army over the Border Guard Forces (BGFs) program since April 2009. The group, together with its allies, United Wa State Army, Kachin Independence Army and Shan State Army (SSA) North, have refused either to become a BGF or disarm itself as long as its self rule call is ignored by the junta and the allies have also reached an agreement to help each other whenever the junta's pressure comes.

The NDAA officially known as Shan State Special Region #4, has 3 brigades: Central, 369th (mostly Shan) and 911st (mostly Akha). Its estimated strength is 4,500.