[Tee tiong huat]

Junta Troops ‘Cornered’ in Two Northern Shan Townships (TNLA). Ta’ang Army and residents report fierce fighting centered on regime positions in Nawnghkio and Hsipaw.

Junta Amplifies Nationalist, Anti-China Sentiment After Loss of Northeastern Command. After historic loss of Northeastern Command in northern Shan State earlier this month. Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing claimed in Aug. 5 televised conflict in Myanmar was being prolonged by foreign countries backing armed groups. The allegation came 2-days after Brotherhood Alliance’s Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) seized Northeastern Command HQ in Lashio, marking the first-ever defeat of a military command.

Pro-junta media outlet NP News alleged that Brotherhood Alliance troops were hoisting not only their own flags but also other red flags with stars meaning China flag byin northern Shan State towns they had seized. “I like to ask Chinese born in Myanmar what you would do if China is involved in fighting in northern Myanmar. If this is a proxy war, if all Myanmar citizens are facing an indirect invasion, for my part, would raise the awareness of all Myanmar people,” said NP News’ Kyaw Myo Min in a video published on August 5, one day before the rallies launched.

The protesters saluted Myanmar’s flag, raised banners reading ‘Victory in the just war’, and sang the national anthem and patriotic songs. The public, however, showed no interest in the rallies or the claim that war in northern Myanmar amounted to a foreign invasion. In November last year, Min Aung Hlaing alleged anti-regime groups were using China-made drones to drop bombs on junta positions in northern Shan State during the first phase of the alliance’s Operation 1027. Following his outburst, junta-backed nationalists staged protests against Beijing in downtown Yangon and outside the Chinese Embassy.