The Burmese flotilla came up the river and attacked and sank all the Chinese boats. Press J to jump to the feed. The Burmese scorched earth policy meant that the Chinese were vulnerable to supply line cuts. Later, U Thaw Kaung met a few of them. (Burmese guerrilla operations were directed by Gen. Teingya Minkhaung, a deputy of Maha Thiha Thura). One Qing report stated that 800 out of 1000 soldiers in one garrison had died of disease, and that another hundred were ill.[20], With the Chinese army greatly weakened, the Burmese then launched their offensive. But there was no real choice but to press on. [28], Having smashed through the main Burmese army, Ming Rui pressed on full steam ahead, overrunning one town after another, and reached Singu on the Irrawaddy, 30 miles north of Ava at the beginning of 1768. Provinces throughout China were mobilized to provide supplies. The third invasion (1767–1768) led by the elite Manchu Bannermen nearly succeeded, penetrating deep into central Burma within a few days' march from the capital, Ava (Inwa). E'erdeng'e The main Chinese army, led by Ming Rui himself, was to approach Ava through Hsenwi, Lashio and Hsipaw, and down the Namtu river. Yet it proved that there were limits to the Burmese military power. Maha Sithu led the main Burmese army, and was the overall commander of the Chinese theater, with Maha Thiha Thura and Ne Myo Sithu commanding two other Burmese armies. Instead of complying, Liu committed suicide by slicing his throat with a stationery knife, writing as blood was pouring from his neck: "There is no way to pay back the emperor's favor. 4. Europe and the New Sino-American Cold War . From January 17-18, the chairman of China’s Communist Party, Xi Jinping, travelled to Myanmar to promote bilateral ties and advance construction of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). Maha Thiha Thura moved upriver by boat toward Bhamo. He had begun making plans about how he would administer his newest territory. 01 March 2021. A fourth army was organized with the sole purpose of cutting the enemy supply lines. Because the Chinese did not return the sawbwas, the Burmese did not return the 2500 Chinese prisoners of war, who were resettled. [39], Although hostilities ceased, an uneasy truce ensued. The Chinese then proceeded to lay siege to the Burmese garrison at Kaungton. About the author. The Qing invasion came as the majority of Burmese forces were deployed in their latest invasion of Siam. The war cost the Qing treasury 9.8 million silver taels. But they are likely to find staying neutral is not an option. The first military coup in Myanmar (then Burma) was an “early bird” signal that it was an indication that Chairman Mao Zedong had tasked Chinese Communist Party Vice-Chairman and Defence Minister Lin Biao with the job of ensuring a significant move against … China under the Qianlong Emperor launched four invasions of Burma between 1765 and 1769, which were considered as one of his Ten Great Campaigns. President U Win Myint (second from left), State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) attend a ceremony to mark the 70th That refusal to entertain worst case scenarios led to the 20 October – 21 November 1962 Sino-Indian war that ended with the full control of Aksai Chin by the PRC and the humiliation of Nehru in the eyes of the world. The Chinese armies were now trapped inside the corridor between the Shwenyaungbin and Kaungton forts, completely surrounded by rings of Burmese forces. [35] Of the original 30,000 men of the main army, only 2500 remained alive and were captured. [25] At Kunming, Yang began resorting to lies. For the Qing, the war highlighted limits to their military power. A clash between the world’s superpowers in their own backyard is the last thing Southeast Asian nations need.