Chinese Consulate in Mandalay Attacked

Demonstrations against the government ruling Burma, renamed Myanmar, have evolved to include protests against China, for keeping the military junta in power. A drive-by shooting targeted the Chinese consulate in Mandalay, and local observers suggest that the event reveals rising hostility toward Beijing. Since violent riots between Burmese and Chinese residents of Rangoon 40 years ago, the relationship between the military regime and its behemoth of a neighbor has stabilized. China is Myanmar’s largest importer and third largest export partner. Many inside and outside the country assert that the proceeds of trade expand the military arsenal, keeping the junta in power. Chinese officials, meanwhile, remain silent in the face of international pressure to force economic reform. Brushing aside threats of boycotts against the 2008 Olympic Games, China continues to maintain its stance of strict non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. With protests spreading around the globe, the conflict becomes more than an internal matter and attracts outright international condemnation. – YaleGlobal