Peng Daxun[n 1] (Chinese: 彭大顺; pinyin: Péng Dàshùn, Burmese: ဖုန်တာရွှင်), also known as
Peng Deren (Chinese: 彭德仁; pinyin: Péng Dérén, born 1957 or 1965), is a Burmese Kokang military leader serving as commander of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) since 2009. He is the son of Pheung Kya-shin, his immediate predecessor as commander of the MNDAA, and had waged a war against the Tatmadaw and government of Myanmar to reclaim control over the region of Kokang.
Although he led the MNDAA to major victories against the Myanmar military in northern Shan State such as recapturing the Kokang region and the town of Lashio,[4][5][6] he has since shifted in stance towards upholding China's peace policy in Myanmar after he was detained by Chinese authorities in Yunnan province in October 2024.[7]
Biography
Peng Daxun was born in 1957 or 1965 as the son of Peng Jiasheng (Pheung Kya-shin, 1931–2022), the first leader of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army. In his early career, he served within the local police force of Kokang.[8] In 2009, he became leader of the MNDAA, succeeding his father after the loss of Kokang Self-Administered Zone to the Tatmadaw.[9] It was speculated that the elder Peng had been grooming his son to be his successor; however, in a telephone interview with Voice of America, he stated: "I am in this position now, to this extent, because of current events. Frankly speaking, it was forced by the Burmese government and the Burmese army. In fact, I didn’t want to engage in these things, armed revolution and martial arts. I didn't like engaging in these political activities." He also usually prefers to read historical books.[2] Following the Tatmadaw takeover of Kokang SAZ, the four major groups within the MNDAA all defected to the Tatmadaw, leaving Peng to fight a guerrilla war.[8]
By 2012, an arrest warrant for Peng remained outstanding in Myanmar, alleging that he, along with his father and two other leaders of the MNDAA, were illegally producing and selling weapons and ammunition.[10] Peng's brother-in-law, Chinese-Burmese businessman Li Guoquan (also known as Hla Win), died in Tatmadaw custody in 2015.[11][12]
Reportedly, Peng has been detained in Kunming, China in a family-owned hotel since late October 2024. Allegedly, he is being held to exert pressure on the MNDAA until they give up control of Lashio.[15] However, the Chinese government denied this; they claim that he was seeking medical treatment.[16]
On 18 January 2025, the MNDAA agreed to a ceasefire deal with the Myanmar military as brokered by China, reportedly with the condition that they cede control of Lashio to the military junta by June.[17][18] By January 28, Peng issued a Chinese New Year message, his first public statement since the end of his detainment, pledging to "uphold China's favorable policy of 'encouraging peace and promoting dialogue' for Myanmar".[19]
Notes
^He signed as "彭大顺" in an open letter to Burmese soldiers.[3] Other spellings include Pheung Daxun, Pheung Tar Shwin, Peng Ta-shung, and Peng Dashun.
References
^ ab缅甸《果敢志》编纂委员会 (2012). 果敢志 (in Simplified Chinese). Hong Kong: 天馬出版有限責任公司. p. 500-501. ISBN9789624502084. 彭德仁 男，汉族，高中学历。1957年7月16日，出生于红石头河...
