The KIA has captured Panwa, a town near the Chinese border in northern Kachin State. After capturing Chipwe and Saolok in recent weeks, Panwa has been recaptured. The town is surrounded by a small number of junta troops and is controlled by the Kachin BGF battalions under the military. The KIA has taken control of the town one by one.
Panwa is a famous town with rare earth mining blocks. These blocks are controlled by the Kachin BGF and the junta and are mainly exported to China. Now all of these blocks are about to fall into the hands of the KIA. I think China, which is in desperate need of rare earths, will have to negotiate something with the KIA.
