China urges Myanmar to protect rescuers after military fires shots at aid convoy

China has urged Myanmar to ensure the safety of its rescue personnel after the Southeast Asian country’s military fired warning shots at a Chinese aid convoy during earthquake relief efforts.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its personnel and supplies were “all safe” after Myanmar’s military fired warning shots at a nine-vehicle Red Cross Society of China convoy on Tuesday. Myanmar’s junta has accused the relief team of entering a conflict zone without prior approval.

“In the face of a major disaster, human lives are at stake. The top priority is to carry out comprehensive earthquake relief. China sincerely hopes that all ethnic groups and factions in Myanmar will work together to overcome the difficulties,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday.

“We strongly urge all parties in Myanmar to ensure the safety of rescue personnel and materials from China and other countries, and to ensure that the rescue transport channels are unobstructed.”

Guo said the supplies carried by the Chinese team were headed to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, which was devastated by the earthquake. He did not confirm whether the incident occurred, or whether it occurred in the way described by the junta.

The junta said on Wednesday that it fired shots 100 metres (328 feet) from the convoy on Tuesday night, and the convoy retreated to Nawnghkio, a town seized by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group operating in the region, according to local news agency Myanmar Now.