"KIO to prioritize environmental safeguards in rare-earth mining", Burma News International, 28 January 2026

The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) said it has reached agreements with Chinese mining companies to explore ways to minimize environmental damage from rare-earth mining in Chipwi and Pang War towns under its control.

Pang War and Chipwi were previously controlled by the junta-aligned Kachin Border Guard Force (BGF) and militia groups. In 2024, the [...] KIO, took over the areas and negotiated with existing Chinese mining companies to resume rare-earth mineral extraction. Nearly a year has now passed since REM mining operations resumed in the two towns under KIO rule.

Chinese mining companies that previously operated under junta-aligned groups have agreed to continue their activities under KIO governance while complying with regulations and guidelines set by the KIA [...].

Some miners noted that the only difference compared to before is that Chinese companies now carefully package their waste, but there have been no other significant changes in procedures.

[...] All rare-earth minerals mined in these two towns were exported to China.