On Saturday, October 19, according to reports from local media in Myanmar cited by Agence France-Presse, the Chinese Consulate General in Mandalay, Myanmar, was attacked by an explosion with no reports of casualties.
The explosion, as reported by local media, took place around 7 p.m. local time on Friday, October 18, at the Consulate General office in downtown Mandalay, located south of the Myanmar Royal Palace.
Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar, situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy River in central Myanmar.
Analysts mentioned that Beijing is a key ally and weapons supplier to the military regime in Myanmar, while also maintaining connections with ethnic minorities in Shan state in northern Myanmar who are in conflict with the military government.
Since the military overthrew the government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021 and seized power, Myanmar has been in a state of turmoil.
The Myanmar military government released a statement on Saturday evening, attributing the incident to “terrorists” and stating that they are cooperating with Chinese consulate officials in the investigation.
The government stated that the security forces discovered an “explosion” and are “taking necessary security measures.”
Regarding the damage from the explosion, the statement mentioned that “the roof of the two-story building was damaged by about two feet of clay tiles.”
A Myanmar official confirmed to Agence France-Presse, “An incident occurred yesterday evening at the Chinese (Chinese Communist Party) Consulate General’s compound in Mandalay.”
The official stated, “No one was injured,” but did not specify the nature of the incident.
Local media outlet “The Irrawaddy” reported that a grenade was thrown into the compound, which is typically guarded by Myanmar security forces.
Reports from “The Voice of Myanmar” indicated that the consulate was hit by an unidentified “explosive” attack, but details were not disclosed.
The Chinese Embassy in the capital of Myanmar, Yangon, did not respond to Agence France-Presse’s inquiries.
Independent media in Myanmar reported that General Min Aung Hlaing, the chairman of the ruling military council, will visit Beijing in the coming weeks, his first such visit since coming to power.
A resident named Chanmyathazi living near the consulate told the Associated Press that the already tight security measures around the consulate became even stricter after the explosion, with nearby roads being closed. He preferred not to disclose his name out of fear of being arrested by the military.
The main coordination group opposing military rule, the National Unity Government, condemned the attack on the Chinese Consulate and stated that they will strongly oppose any actions that may incite racial and religious conflicts.
(Based on reports from Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press)