Located in northern Shan State, Tangyan Town is not a tense military zone, yet the United Wa State Army (UWSA) has deployed thousands of troops there, according to a military source.

Since July 10, UWSA has moved over 2,000 troops across the Thanlwin (Salween) River, positioning them in Tangyan on the river’s west bank.

“After discussions with the junta in Naypyidaw, UWSA troops entered Tangyan. Now, over 2000 troops have already arrived in the town, effectively placing Tangyan under UWSA control”, the source told SHAN.

More than 1,500 troops from UWSA’s No. 171 Military Region Command, based along the Thai border, and over 500 troops from the 318th Brigade have been deployed in Tangyan.

Some UWSA troops then headed to Lashio, while others remained garrisoned in Tangyan. Details are still under investigation by the SHAN.

According to SHAN’s source, UWSA’s sudden increase in presence in northern Shan State may be to reinforce the junta’s bases in Mongyai and Tangyan to prevent them from falling.

This step may be intended to dispel China’s suspicion that UWSA is behind the offensives of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) against the junta in northern Shan State.

On January 5, During the first wave of ‘Operation 1027’, when Hopang and Panlong were taken over by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, UWSA deployed troops and raised its flag in those towns.

On January 10, the Alliance officially recognized the two towns as UWSA’s territories and handed them over to UWSA.