CNI News

22 August 2025

The Chairman of the Tai-Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), Sai Htay Aung, told CNI News that if the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) desires peace, it needs to avoid being greedy.

His comments came after TNLA's General Secretary, Major General Tar Bone Kyaw, wrote on his Facebook page on August 12, 2025, that the biggest challenge in the current revolution is China's self-interested dominance and control.

TNDP Chairman Sai Htay Aung suggested that China's recommendations during negotiations could be a source of pressure for the TNLA.

"From my perspective, if the TNLA wants peace, I want to say that it is necessary not to be greedy," said Sai Htay Aung. "Taking what is rightfully yours is worry-free. But if you forcibly take something that isn't yours, it's like embracing a burning object. Therefore, if we are to live together in friendship and harmony among ethnic groups, it is necessary to reduce greed and ego. As for the pressure on them, they are now negotiating with China. China will likely give suggestions on what they should do for peace in Myanmar. That suggestion could become a pressure point for them."

The TNLA troops

The TNLA, along with the Kokang forces (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA), People's Defense Forces (PDF), BPLA, KNDA, BNRA, and MDY-PDF, launched "Operation 1027" on October 27, 2023. They attacked and captured several towns in northern Shan State, including Namhkam, Nansang, Mantong, Namtu, Mong Ngor, Kutkai, Hsipaw, Kyaukme, Nawnghkio, and Momeik, as well as Mogok in Mandalay Region.

Following this, the Chinese government applied pressure to stop the fighting and engage in dialogue, imposing five major restrictions on the TNLA. Similarly, it pressured the MNDAA to halt joint military operations and offensives, forcing them to withdraw from Lashio, and banned the supply of weapons and ammunition to the TNLA.

As a result, the TNLA held initial talks with the Myanmar Tatmadaw on February 16-17, 2025, followed by a second round on April 28-29. A third round of talks is expected in August 2025.

Currently, the Myanmar Tatmadaw, which recaptured the TNLA-controlled town of Nawnghkio in July 2025, is now launching offensives to retake Kyaukme, Hsipaw, and Mogok.

While seeing the TNLA and the two delegates of Myanmar Tatmadaw

U Khun Sai, who is involved in the peace process, told CNI News that given the current situation, he believes the TNLA should engage in dialogue and expects that they will.

"If we look at the state of global tensions, even while one side is fighting, the other side is negotiating. Fighting and negotiating are often done simultaneously. Historically and practically, everyone does it. Negotiations can be public, or they can be held behind closed doors, without any news released, and without the media being informed. Such things are happening now. We can't say the TNLA is completely avoiding dialogue. But they should do it, and I hope they will," he said.

At a press conference on August 5, TNLA spokesperson Lway Yay Oo confirmed that Chinese government pressure on their military operations continues. She stated that because they cannot defy the pressure from the Chinese government, they have to cooperate and will attend the talks.

Meanwhile, during a speech to officers and their families in the Magway cantonment on August 18, 2025, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, stated that the biggest challenge during periods of political instability is the effort by states to secede.