Rebels attack China's oil pipeline in Myanmar

In what would raise an alarm bell in Beijing a China-backed oil and gas pipeline was damaged when a local resistance group attacked junta forces guarding the energy facility in Myanmar’s Mandalay Region’s Natogyi township on Monday.

Natogyi-People’s Defense Force (NPDF) attacked 13 regime personnel, according to a report published by The Irrawaddy, a leading media outlet on Myanmar.

The NPDF claimed that the Myanmar military suffered casualties in the attack.


The oil and gas pipelines, which run from the Rakhine coast to southern China, were constructed in 2011 and began operation in July 2013.

The 973-km pipelines pass through Magwe and Mandalay regions and Shan State to China’s Yunnan Province.

Anti-Chinese sentiment has swelled in Myanmar following the military take over last February, with many people believing Beijing had a hand in the takeover. At that time, there were calls for a boycott of Chinese products, along with calls to blow up the pipelines if China refused to condemn the regime, The Irrawaddy reported.

The calls prompted China to urge the regime to increase security for the pipelines. Since March last year, the regime has assigned extra forces to protect the pipelines.

In May last year, three regime troops guarding the pipelines in Sintgaing Township, Mandalay Region were killed by unidentified attackers.

China has urged Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government to ensure the resistance movement does not harm Chinese investments in the country.

The request came after a local resistance group attacked electricity pylons supplying the China-backed Tagaung Taung nickel-processing plant in Sagaing’s Tigyaing Township in early January, according to The Irrawaddy.

Oil pipeline through Myanmar is part of China’s long term plan to avoid shipment of oil from West and Africa via the Indian Ocean Region.