Rare-Earth Mining Preparations Near China Border Trigger Concern in Kachin State

Chinese companies are preparing to launch rare-earth mining operations in Khaunglanhpu Township, Putao District, near the Chinese border in northern Kachin State, triggering widespread concern among local residents. Myanmar military junta forces, the junta-aligned Khaunglanhpu militia, and Chinese businesses are collaborating to clear land west of Shingkawng Village. Chinese operators are also offering monetary compensation to convince landowners to relinquish their property, according to local sources. “The area is under joint control of the junta and the Khaunglanhpu militia,” a local resident said. “The junta has been planning rare-earth extraction in these mountain villages alongside Chinese businesses for some time. Battalion commanders stationed here are now working directly with militia leaders and Chinese operators to expedite preparations.” Preparations reportedly began in 2025. Chinese operators entering Myanmar through Shingkawng have been coordinating with Putao-based Infantry Battalion 46 (IB 46), its proxy units, and the Khaunglanhpu militia. The proposed mining sites are situated near Myanmar-China border posts 31 and 32, west of Shingkawng Village, near the settlements of Shingkawng, Nangsein, Zinhtan, and Nyiwa. To secure access, operators are offering annual lump-sum lease payments. Although residents oppose the projects, many feel unable to speak out under the militia-controlled regime. “Locals don’t want to agree to this,” a female resident said. “Operators are offering a year’s rent up front. No one wants to accept it, but we feel forced to. The militia controls the area, so no one dares object.” The designated mining zones encompass ancestral farmland as well as star anise and black cardamom plantations—the primary cash crops for local households. Rural communities in border-area Khaunglanhpu rely heavily on exporting these crops to China, alongside foraging for medicinal roots and forest products. Residents fear that mining operations will destroy their crops, reduce available arable land, and restrict access to forest resources. “These are remote mountain communities,” the resident added. “Authorities have subtly warned of negative consequences if we refuse their offers. It puts us in an impossible position.” Located over 100 miles from Putao Town in rugged, mountainous terrain, Shingkawng Village relies almost entirely on China for basic foodstuffs, medicine, and consumer goods. As preparations accelerate, locals warn that active mining will permanently damage their ancestral lands and destroy their traditional livelihoods.