Sino-Burmese War (1765–69)

The Sino-Burmese War, also known as the Qing invasions of Burma or the Myanmar campaign of the Qing Dynasty, is a war fought between the Qing Dynasty of China and the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar).

China under the Qianlong Emperor launches four invasions of Burma between 1765 and 1769, which are considered as one of his Ten Great Campaigns.

Nonetheless, the war claims the lives of over 70,000 Chinese soldiers and four commanders.

Burma's successful defense lays the foundation for the present-day boundary between the two countries.

At first, the Emperor envisages an easy war, and sends in only the Green Standard troops stationed in Yunnan.

The Qing invasion comes as the majority of Burmese forces are deployed in their latest invasion of Siam.

Nonetheless, battle-hardened Burmese troops defeat the first two invasions of 1765–1766 and 1766–1767 at the border.

The regional conflict now escalates to a major war that involves military maneuvers nationwide in both countries.

The third invasion (1767–1768) led by the elite Manchu Bannermen nearly succeeds, penetrating deep into central Burma within a few days' march from the capital, Ava (Inwa), but the bannermen of northern China cannot cope with unfamiliar tropical terrains and lethal endemic diseases, and are driven back with heavy losses.

After the close-call, King Hsinbyushin redeploys his armies from Siam to the Chinese front.

The fourth and largest invasion gets bogged down at the frontier.

With the Qing forces completely encircled, a truce is reached between the field commanders of the two sides in December 1769.

The Qing keep a heavy military lineup in the border areas of Yunnan for about one decade in an attempt to wage another war while imposing a ban on inter-border trade for two decades.

The Burmese tooare preoccupied with the Chinese threat, and keep a series of garrisons along the border.

Twenty years later, when Burma and China resume a diplomatic relationship in 1790, the Qing unilaterally view the act as Burmese submission, and claim victory.

Ironically, the main beneficiaries of this war are the Siamese.

After having lost their capital Ayutthaya to the Burmese in 1767, they reclaim most of their territories in the next three years.

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