ARMED groups in north-eastern Myanmar have taken control of a key city on the border with China, accomplishing one of their main goals since launching action in October.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance — comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army — took control of Laukkaing late on Thursday after forces of the country’s military government reportedly laid down their arms and were allowed to withdraw, according to reports.

Laukkaing is the capital of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone, geographically part of the northern Shan state, and its fall to the alliance is the biggest in a series of defeats suffered by Myanmar’s military government.

The MNDAA is a military force of the Kokang minority, who are ethnic Chinese.

Ethnic armed organisations have battled for greater autonomy on and off for decades, but Myanmar has effectively been at civil war since the army seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.