Myanmar's military has launched renewed offensives in border regions with critical rare earth deposits. New military chief Ye Win Oo is aggressively pushing to reclaim strategic strongholds from ethnic armies.
Offensives focus on Kachin State, rich in heavy rare earths, as well as Chin State and Karen State. The military claims to have secured Falam town and the Mandalay-Myitkyina route.
Rebel groups have rejected peace talks, vowing resistance. Kachin Independence Army spokesperson said: 'We will welcome them with gunfire.'
