Myanmar Military Fires on Chinese Red Cross Convoy Carrying Earthquake Aid

Myanmar’s military has admitted to opening fire on a Chinese Red Cross convoy that was delivering relief supplies to victims of the devastating March 28 earthquake.

According to Major General Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for the ruling State Administration Council, the incident took place on April 1 at around 9:30 p.m. in Nawnghkio Township, Shan State, near Mandalay, the closest major city to the earthquake’s epicenter. The military claimed the convoy had not informed the embassy’s military attaché about its route.

“The deployed military unit attempted to stop the convoy but was unsuccessful,” Zaw Min Tun stated on Wednesday. “From a distance of 200 meters, troops signaled with lights to stop, then fired three warning shots into the air when the convoy reached 100 meters. The vehicles then turned back to Nawnghkio.”

He added that an investigation was underway and accused certain groups of exploiting the earthquake, which has killed over 2,886 people in Myanmar and at least 21 in Thailand, for political purposes.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group engaged in conflict with the military in the region, contradicted the official account, stating that the convoy had properly notified the regime of its journey to Mandalay but was still attacked with machine-gun fire. “The nine-vehicle convoy carrying relief supplies from the Chinese Red Cross Society for earthquake victims is now under TNLA protection and will continue its journey,” the TNLA said.

China’s foreign ministry confirmed that no one was injured in the attack and urged all parties in Myanmar to prioritize earthquake relief efforts. “It is crucial to keep transportation routes open for rescue personnel and supplies from China and other countries,” ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a press briefing.

To ensure humanitarian aid reaches affected areas, the Brotherhood Alliance—a coalition of ethnic armed groups—announced a one-month ceasefire in northern Shan State. The shadow National Unity Government, formed by politicians ousted in Myanmar’s 2021 coup, had earlier declared a two-week ceasefire.

Despite these humanitarian ceasefires, Myanmar’s military has faced criticism for continuing aerial strikes against rebel forces since the earthquake.

Independent analyst David Scott Mathieson remarked that the military’s explanation was unreliable. “The Chinese convoy had clearly marked vehicles and would have checked every stage of the route. This incident shows that the military is both reckless and more concerned with its own survival than helping those suffering from the earthquake,” he said.

A veteran Western analyst described the shooting as an “unintentional screw-up” that reflects the military’s disorganization, adding, “It has nothing to do with the earthquake—it’s just another example of their chaos.”