Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing said that ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) operating in Myanmar on the border with China pose a serious threat to stability in the border areas.

He made the comment at a meeting with Chinese businessmen on 5 November 2024 in Kunming, Yunnan Province prior to attending the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) summit that was held in Kunming on 6 and 7 November.

He claimed that the EAOs operating near the Myanmar-China border have rejected peace offers and invitations for political talks, while actively working to undermine regional stability. He also accused them of trying to exploit the situation both politically and militarily by using various manipulative tactics to create misunderstandings about Myanmar in China.

He also highlighted the issue of illegal border trade saying that such activities harm the governments and people of both countries, threaten regional stability, and are inherently contagious, using the example of times in the past when warlords have set up fiefdoms on the border funded by drug smuggling. He accused the EAOs currently operating on the Chinese border of setting up similar fiefdoms under the guise of establishing democracy and protecting ethnic interests.

But since July 2024, China has been closing border crossings to Myanmar or severely reducing the amount of trade allowed from China through them.

During the first phase of ‘Operation 1027,’ the Three Brotherhood Alliance captured the Muse 105-Mile, Kyin San Kyawt, Chinshwehaw, Laukkai, Pang Hseng (Kyukoke), Yanlongkeng, and Namhkam trading posts in northern Shan State on the China-Myanmar border. All of these trading posts have been closed by China since July 2024.

In Kachin State the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held the crossing of Laiza since before the coup. The KIA took control of Lwegel Town in Momauk Township, on 31 March 2024, Pangwar Town in Chipwi Township on on 19 October 2024 and Phimaw on 2 November. The Kachin BGF still holds the crossing at Kanpaikti Town.

The Chinese shut the border crossings in Lwegel, Pangwar and Laiza towns on 18 October, the Kanpaikti Town border crossing on 22 October and the Phimaw crossing on 26 October. There used to be a crossing to Kham Phan in Kachin State but that has not reopened since closing during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Since the last week of October China has also banned the export of goods including fuel and food to Myanmar through the border crossings of Phangsan Town, long-term controlled by the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and Mongla Town, long-term controlled by the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).