An ethnic army attacked a junta naval base in western Myanmar, locals told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday. The base is one of the largest in the country and located in part of an ongoing Chinese investment project.
The attack was initiated by the Arakan Army on Monday morning in Rakhine State’s Kyaukphyu township, residents said. Danyawaddy Naval Base retaliated during the attack using heavy artillery and small arms, reported one resident, who declined to be named for security reasons.
"Yesterday morning, the Arakan Army fired at the naval base with shock missiles. They fired about six times. I don't know how much damage they inflicted,” he said. “The naval base also fired back with heavy and small arms. There was no more fighting today, but the junta troops have closed all the roads and tightened security.”
Danyawaddy is part of the Kyaukphyu deep sea port complex and in a special economic zone that is currently being developed by China. The project was approved in 2023 by the junta and attempts to recruit locals for work have been met with controversy and distrust.
Fighting in Rakhine in December has already stalled progress on both the port and railroad, locals told RFA.
Emails by RFA to the Chinese Embassy in Yangon for comment on the attack went unanswered Tuesday.
Both the Myanmar junta and resistance groups, like the Three Brotherhood Alliance, have been frequently urged by China to secure the country’s projects inside Myanmar and stabilize the border region. The Arakan Army is one resistance group in the alliance, along with the Ta'ang National Liberation Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army.
Myanmar’s regime has not released any information about the attack on the naval base. RFA was unable to reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment regarding junta injuries and damages.
Monday was the Arakan Army’s first attack on the junta naval base in Kyaukphyu, according to their statement released Monday. It said the army intends to capture all junta camps in Paletwa, one of the westernmost towns in Myanmar’s Chin state.
Currently, all junta camps in western Paletwa have been captured, the group claimed.
Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.