{{Distinguish|Chin National Defence Force}} {{Short description|Insurgent group fighting against the junta in Myanmar}} {{Sources exist|date=March 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox militant organization | name = Chinland Defense Force | logo = Flag of Chin State.svg | native_name = ချင်းဒေသကာကွယ်ရေးတပ်ဖွဲ့ | caption = Flag of the Chinland Defense Force | native_name_lang = my | other_name = | founding_leader = | foundation = {{Start date|2021|04|04|df=yes}} | dates = {{Start date|2021|04|04|df=yes}} – present | dissolved = | merger = | split = | predecessor = | merged = | successor = | country = Myanmar | allegiance = {{flag|Myanmar}} | area = Chinland<br>Magway Region<br>Sagaing Region<br>India-Myanmar border | ideology = Federalism<br>Democracy<br>Minority rights | clans = *CDF Kanpetlet *CDF Mindat *CDF Hakha *CDF Matupi *CDF Paletwa *CDF Thantlang *CDF Mara *CDF Zanniat *CDF Zotung *CDF Zophei *CDF Lautu *CDF Senthang *CDF Tonzang *PDF Zoland *CDF Hualngoram *CDF (CDM) Siyin *CDF KKG *CDF Daai *CNO/CNDF (Falam) *Asho Chin defence force(ACDF) | allies = * {{flagicon image|Fighting peacock flag.svg}} All Burma Students' Democratic Front * {{flagicon image|Flag of the Anti-fascist Internationalist Front.jpg}} Anti-Fascist Internationalist Front<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-11 |title=The Battle of Falam – ANTI-FASCIST INTERNATIONALIST FRONT |url=https://aifmyanmar.noblogs.org/post/2025/05/11/the-battle-of-falam/ |access-date=2025-08-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> * {{flagicon image|Flag of the Arakan Army, under the United League of Arakan.svg}} Arakan Army<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/cdf-mindat-admits-receiving-military-training-and-arms-arakan-army|title=CDF-Mindat admits receiving military training and arms from Arakan Army|date=28 April 2022|work=BNI|access-date=4 May 2022|archive-date=4 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504111149/https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/cdf-mindat-admits-receiving-military-training-and-arms-arakan-army|url-status=live}}</ref> * {{flagicon image|Chin National Army Flag.svg}} Chin National Army<ref>{{cite web|title=Chin National Front Signs Deal with Myanmar's Shadow Govt|url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/chin-national-front-signs-deal-with-myanmars-shadow-govt.html|website=The Irrawaddy|access-date=30 May 2021|date=29 May 2021|archive-date=21 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121112304/https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/chin-national-front-signs-deal-with-myanmars-shadow-govt.html|url-status=live}}</ref> * {{flagicon image|Myanmar National Liberation Army.svg}} National Liberation Army * {{flagicon image|Flag of PDF Myanmar.svg}} People's Defence Force * {{flagicon image|Pdfkalay.png}}People's Defence Force - Kalay * {{flagicon image|Flag of People's Revolution Alliance (Magway).svg|border|150px}} People's Revolution Alliance (Magway)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ludunwayoo.com/news-mm/2023/02/09/67324|title=PRA and CDF join forces attack military production factory in Ngape|date=22 March 2022|website=Ludunwayoo|access-date=24 March 2022|archive-date=27 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727112519/https://www.ludunwayoo.com/news-mm/2023/02/09/67324/|url-status=live}}</ref> * {{flagicon image|Flag of Student Armed Force.svg|frameless}} Student Armed Force | opponents = '''State opponents:''' {{flag|Myanmar}} (SAC) * {{flagicon image|Flag of the Myanmar Armed Forces.svg}} Tatmadaw ** {{army|MYA}} *** {{flagicon image|Mm-north-western-rmc.svg}} North Western Command ** {{flagicon image|Flag of the Myanmar Police Force.svg}} Myanmar Police Force ** {{flagicon image|Flag of Myanmar.svg}} Pyusawhti militias '''Non-state opponents:''' {{flagicon image|Flag of Zomi Re-unification Organisation.svg}} Zomi Revolutionary Army<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul Lu: ZRO/ZRA Has Abducted And Killed Our CJDC Members |url=https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/paul-lu-zrozra-has-abducted-and-killed-our-cjdc-members |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Burma News International |language=en |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628210211/https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/paul-lu-zrozra-has-abducted-and-killed-our-cjdc-members |url-status=live }}</ref>{{EngvarB|date=December 2021}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-regime-recaptures-strategic-chin-state-town-of-tonzang.html|title=Myanmar Regime Recaptures Strategic Chin State Town of Tonzang|date=21 May 2026|publisher=The Irrawaddy|last=Khaing|first=Mary|archiveurl=https://megalodon.jp/2026-0521-2137-23/https://www.irrawaddy.com:443/news/burma/myanmar-regime-recaptures-strategic-chin-state-town-of-tonzang.html|archive-date=21 May 2026}}</ref> | battles = Internal conflict in Myanmar * Myanmar civil war (2021–present) ** Clashes in Chin State ** Battle of Mindat ** Battle of Thantlang ** Battle of Timit }}
The '''Chinland Defense Force''' ({{langx|my|ချင်းဒေသကာကွယ်ရေးတပ်ဖွဲ့|lit=Chin Region Defense Army|translit=Chīn Deithạ Kakweyēi Tathpwẹ}}; abbreviated: CDF) is a rebel group in Myanmar. It was formed in response to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état to protect Chin State from the military junta. The CDF claims that they do not attack the military without cause and that they always issue a warning, such as releasing detainees and refraining from using violence against civilians. If the military does not respond, guerrilla or other action follows. They promise to return their weapons and disband if the revolution is successful.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.myanmarspeaks.com/posts/who-are-the-chin-defence-force-myanmar|title=Who are the Chinland Defense Force (CDF), Chin Myanmar|website=www.myanmarspeaks.com|access-date=23 March 2022|archive-date=12 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512221723/https://www.myanmarspeaks.com/posts/who-are-the-chin-defence-force-myanmar|url-status=live}}</ref> CDFs are members of CJDC (Chinland Joint Defense Committee). Chinland Joint Defense Committee (CJDC) is formed to serve Chin people's security services and protect an enemy from the illegal Myanmar Army. The total strength of active personnel under the command of CJDC is approximated to be around 15,000. From August to October 2021, it was reported that at least 40 clashes occurred between junta troops and CDF in various townships. CJDC claimed that at least 1,029 Tatmadaw soldiers were killed in the clashes and lost 58 of their own in 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/resistance-fighters-in-chin-killed-more-than-1000-junta-troops-last-year/|title=Resistance fighters in Chin killed 'more than 1,000' junta troops last year|date=January 28, 2022|last=Swe|first=Nyein|publisher=Myanmar Now|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805024631/https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/resistance-fighters-in-chin-killed-more-than-1000-junta-troops-last-year|archive-date=August 5, 2022}}</ref>
==History== Following the February 2021 coup in Myanmar, many protests occurred against the new military junta. Coup opponents peacefully protested by banging pots and pans at night and staging online and offline strikes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/offline-and-online-protests-are-sweeping-across-asia/|title=Offline and Online, Protests Are Sweeping Across Asia|website=thediplomat.com|access-date=24 March 2022|archive-date=24 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324064720/https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/offline-and-online-protests-are-sweeping-across-asia/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Military Council responded harshly using violence to quell the protests, arresting citizens and torching homes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-holds-women-and-children-hostage-in-sagaing.html|title=Myanmar Junta Holds Women and Children Hostage in Sagaing|date=22 March 2022|website=The Irrawaddy|access-date=24 March 2022|archive-date=24 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324072036/https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-holds-women-and-children-hostage-in-sagaing.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Civilian militias began to spring up throughout the country to oppose the coup and to ensure the safety of their own areas. Two ethnic armed organizations operated in Chin State, the Chin National Front's Chin National Army and the Zomi Revolutionary Army. However, the groups were unable to properly reach and safeguard the Chin townships, prompting the formation of the Chinland Defense Force on 4 April 2021.<ref name="auto"/><ref> {{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2021/myanmar-military-burn-villages-tatmadaw/|title='Burn it all down': How Myanmar's military razed villages to crush a growing resistance|last1=Kelly|first1=Meg|last2=Mahtani|first2=Shibani|last3=Lee|first3= Joyce Sohyun|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223143831/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2021/myanmar-military-burn-villages-tatmadaw/|archive-date=December 23, 2021|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>
===Chin Infighting=== On 31 January 2024, the CDF-Mara, CDF-Paletwa, CDF-Thantlang, CDF–Zophei, CDF-Lautu, and CDF–Senthang, alongside the Chin National Army (CNA), launched an offensive on Chin Brotherhood Alliance member the Maraland Defence Force after the MDF reportedly killed a CNA soldier and detained several CDF-Mara soldiers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fighting intensifies between Chin revolutionary forces in Chin’s Maraland |url=https://mmpeacemonitor.org/325665/fighting-intensifies-between-chin-revolutionary-forces-in-chins-maraland/ |date=3 February 2024 |work=Myanmar Peace Monitor}}</ref>
==Goals== The Chinland Defense Force's stated goals are to protect civilians from the ruling military junta, abolition of the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar, an end to military rule, and the establishment of a federal union.<ref name="auto"/>
==Weapons== The Chinland Defense Force has used small arms such as the M-16, AK (Kalashnikov), MA-1, MA-15, Type 81, and Tu Mee hunting rifles.<ref> {{cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/myanmar-seizes-western-town-after-heated-battle-with-civilian-militia/|last=Stranglo|first=Sebastian|date=May 17, 2021|publisher=The Diplomat|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406024547/https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/myanmar-seizes-western-town-after-heated-battle-with-civilian-militia/|archive-date=April 6, 2023|title=Myanmar Seizes Western Town After Heated Battle with Civilian Militia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYuaq1F8h1o|title='Tumee' rifle is weapon of choice for anti-coup fighters in Myanmar's Chin state|date=December 21, 2021|website=youtube.com|publisher=Radio Free Asia|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524224354/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYuaq1F8h1o&gl=US&hl=en|archive-date=24 May 2023|access-date=24 May 2023|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> International importers bring M-16s and AK-47 rifles into Myanmar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/myanmar/b168-taking-aim-tatmadaw-new-armed-resistance-myanmars-coup|publisher=International Crisis Group|title=Taking Aim at the Tatmadaw: The New Armed Resistance to Myanmar's Coup|date=June 28, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325112139/https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/myanmar/b168-taking-aim-tatmadaw-new-armed-resistance-myanmars-coup|archive-date=March 25, 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Insurgent groups in Myanmar}} Category:Chin State Category:Ethnic armed organisations in Myanmar Category:Rebel groups in Myanmar Category:2021 establishments in Myanmar