Regime recaptures Kyaukme in northern Shan State

By Admin 02 Oct 2025

DMG Newsroom

 2 October 2025, Kyaukme, northern Shan State
 
Myanmar’s military regime is continuously attacking towns, and has recaptured some, along the Mandalay-Muse road, a major Chinese trade route controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in northern Shan State.
 
The Myanmar military recaptured Kyaukme town, which was previously controlled by the TNLA, on October 1, according to junta-controlled dailies.
 
The junta-controlled state broadcaster Myanma Radio and Television (MRTV) reported that the military regime was able to recapture Kyaukme in a short period of time thanks to the locals sending military information to the Myanmar military and using a large force in two lines of attack.
 
The military regime recaptured Kyaukme on October 1 and Nawnghkio on July 16, on the Mandalay-Lashio-Muse highway, a major trade route with China.
 
Military experts believe that the military regime is preparing an offensive to also retake Hsipaw, which is controlled by the TNLA.
 
“The military regime has retaken Kyaukme, so it will attack Hsipaw,” said Captain Zin Yaw, a participant in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). “I think the military regime will stop the offensive after retaking Hsipaw. If the military regime does not stop the offensive, it is believed that it will try to retake Namtu. Now the military regime is conducting airstrikes on Namtu. It seems that Hsipaw could be squeezed from both Lashio and Kyaukme.”
 
The TNLA announced that the regime carried out airstrikes on TNLA-controlled Namtu and Mantung towns on October 2, killing three civilians and injuring six others, including a child.
 
The junta is reportedly preparing to send staff employees from the General Administration Department (GAD), police and Immigration Department to Kyaukme to help the administrative apparatus function in Kyaukme.
 
The TNLA and the military regime met in Kunming, China, in April, and the latter demanded the return of five towns, including Nawnghkio and Kyaukme, which were controlled by the TNLA.
 
During a subsequent meeting between the regime and the TNLA in Kunming on August 27, the TNLA discussed returning the towns of Kyaukme and Hsipaw, but the talks collapsed when the junta demanded that TNLA forces withdraw from all the towns they had captured during “Operation 1027.”
 
The TNLA still controls Hsipaw, Namsang, Monglone, Momeik, Mongtong, Namtu, Kutkai, Namkham, Mongngot and Mogok townships in northern Shan State, which were seized during Operation 1027.

The Ta’ang are considered an ethnic minority in the areas controlled by the TNLA in northern Shan State and Mandalay Region, where a lack of local support includes problems with informants reporting back to the Myanmar military.
 
Some analysts believe that the TNLA will need to cooperate with local Burmese resistance forces if it is to successfully maintain its territorial holdings. 
 
“The TNLA’s crisis is that it can no longer be sustained alone and must gradually withdraw from the occupied territories,” said political analyst Maung Ta Mar. “I heard an interview in Kyaukme where locals said they did not want to cooperate with the TNLA in the defence of the town. If the TNLA breaks through this crisis, they will have to consider joining forces with the Mandalay People’s Defence Force and the parallel administration National Unity Government (NUG).”
 
The TNLA is currently preparing a defence in collaboration with the Danu People’s Liberation Army (DPLA) and other local resistance groups to prevent the remaining towns from falling to the military regime.
 
The military regime’s efforts to regain control of the territories it has lost nationwide are being interpreted by many as tied to a desire for international recognition ahead of controversial elections slated for late this year.