Myanmar's military claimed on Thursday to have recaptured the strategic Mandalay-Myitkyina transport corridor, a key trade artery to China, following a 15-month campaign against rebel forces. The junta said its troops defeated 'terrorist insurgent groups' along the route, restoring security within 50 kilometers of the Chinese border.

The military's statement said 322 engagements were fought during the operation, resulting in the deaths of 138 rebels and unspecified military casualties. The corridor's reopening would allow smoother regional trade, the junta claimed, though AFP could not independently verify the battlefield assertions.

The offensive unfolded amid a broader collapse of the rebel alliance that launched a coordinated push in late 2023. Two major ethnic armed groups have since signed truces brokered by China, leaving pro-democracy forces isolated. Beijing, while initially backing anti-junta operations, has shifted toward supporting stability and the junta-led political process.

China has endorsed Myanmar's recent elections, which handed a sweeping victory to parties aligned with the military. Last month, coup leader Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as civilian president in a move widely dismissed as a continuation of military rule. Both sides have pledged to revive stalled infrastructure and energy projects along the trade route.

The military announced the route's reopening immediately, while analysts say the regained control could bolster the junta's strategic and economic position. The government will likely use the victory to assert legitimacy, though opposition forces continue to contest other regions across the country.