In a major development, Myanmar's military government has admitted to losing control of a strategically vital border town along the Chinese border, following several days of intense clashes with armed insurgent groups. This loss represents a major setback for the military junta, which took power in February 2021 and has been grappling with persistent resistance to its rule.

On Wednesday, government spokesperson Zaw Min Tun stated, "Government, administrative organizations, and security forces are no longer present" in Chinshwehaw, the town in question. Chinshwehaw, situated on the border with China's Yunnan province, plays a pivotal role in facilitating trade between Myanmar and China. According to state media reports from September, over 25% of Myanmar's $1.8 billion border trade with China flowed through Chinshwehaw from April to September, as cited by the Ministry of Commerce.

This development follows several days of intense fighting across Myanmar's northern Shan state between the military and a coalition of three ethnic rebel factions collectively known as the Brotherhood Alliance. This coalition comprises the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, the Arakan Army, and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

These groups, with an estimated combined strength of 15,000 fighters, have consistently clashed with Myanmar's military in pursuit of autonomy and control over valuable resources.

In recent days, the Brotherhood Alliance claimed to have captured multiple military outposts and critical transportation routes connecting Myanmar to China. Furthermore, the MNDAA released videos purporting to show its members in control of Chinshwehaw.

Zaw Min Tun confirmed that fighting had erupted at ten different locations within Shan state over the past week. He accused the three armed groups of activities that included sabotaging power stations, destroying bridges, and disrupting transportation networks.

The rebels have asserted that they inflicted significant casualties on government forces, but the military junta has not provided any official figures regarding casualties.

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