United Wa State Army (UWSA)

The United Wa State Army (UWSA) is an armed group in Myanmar’s Shan State. Reuters described it in June 2025 as among the biggest armed groups in Shan State, with a long-standing ceasefire with the junta and 30,000 to 35,000 personnel, and, citing the U.S. Institute of Peace, said it has long-standing commercial and military links with China.

In the same report, Reuters said new rare earth mines between the towns of Mong Hsat and Mong Yun operate under the UWSA’s protection, according to four sources. A Foreign Policy analysis published in August 2026 said rare earth mining has also expanded into parts of Shan State controlled by the UWSA and the National Democratic Alliance Army. REEx has not found a source naming the UWSA as the miner itself.