Irrawaddy-Apr 17
On April 2, Myanmar’s military opened fire on a Chinese Red Cross convoy of vehicles headed to Mandalay, one of the areas hardest hit by the recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake, to deliver relief supplies. Armed rebel group the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) alleged that the military used heavy machine guns to fire on the convoy as it passed through Nawnghkio Township in northern Shan State. While some sources suggest this may have been an unintended incident, the exact cause remains unclear. What remains undeniable is that Chinese interests continue to face attacks within Myanmar. China’s active involvement in Myanmar’s internal conflict—including its support for both the military and armed resistance groups—further intensifies tensions. Just days before on March 21, 2025 a silent protest took place in Lashio, the capital of northern Shan State. Residents displaced by the conflict between the military junta and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) expressed their opposition to China’s involvement in brokering peace talks between the two parties. Protesters distributed posters urging China to respect Myanmar’s sovereignty and cease its support for the military regime. This protest is part of a broader trend of increasing anti-China sentiment in Myanmar. Over the past few years, public frustration has grown due to China’s perceived support for the military junta, its economic exploitation through controversial projects, and its interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs. On Oct. 18, 2024, China’s consulate in Mandalay was targeted in an explosion. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian confirmed the attack on three days later, expressing Beijing’s “deep shock” and issuing a strong condemnation of the incident. Although China is an arms supplier to Myanmar’s junta, it maintains connections with ethnic groups opposing the military, creating a complex dynamic in the region. China’s ties in Myanmar form the background for the broader context surrounding the attack. Independent analyst David Scott Mathieson feels that, “Whoever was behind the consulate bombing, it suggests that there are multiple strands of anti-Chinese anger, against the support for the regime and against the perceived support of China for the Kokang occupation of Lashio.” Read more at:
