Rising Chinese expatriates, involvement in property speculations concern Mandalay natives

Notably after foreign investments are welcomed, some 1,000-plus foreign migrants with working visa have flowed into the country each month and the majority of them are Chinese, the figures show.

The Chinese proprietors have engaged in jewellery, oil and gas businesses and now set eyes to real estate market of Mandalay. According to some local realtors, Chinese tycoons might involve in most of the high-profile property deals.

“The local [property] market has been in the hands of Chinese since years ago. No one can say who was behind the billion-worth dealings. Such kind of contracts has been common these days. I think the speculation is the source of soaring prices in estate business. The Myanmar citizen-owned plots got fewer in numbers in downtown area. Much of the locals have moved to outskirts,” said a local realtor.

Khine Thazin, a resident in Chanayethazan Township, agreed: “Previously the Chinese households were not above three to four. But now, the table has turned. Some houses are closed with placard lettered in Chinese. I’m afraid if Mandalay to become a province of China.”

Locals said the property dealings should be probed in case whether Chinese have involved. 

“As Mandalay area can be extended only to the South, some Chinese have acquired plots and farmlands in Amarapura [the Southern corner of Mandalay] in advance. Some contracts were signed by their own names, and some, in Myanmar citizens’. I’ve heard most of them are not Mandalay natives. Land prices in the eastern villages of Taungthaman Lake have increased from million to some hundred million kyat,” a resident in Amarapura said.

The number of Chinese-owned businesses – hotels, restaurants, inns – has increased too.

“Everyone knows Chinese involvements in property market. But it’s hard to prove as they seldom make deals with their own names. The relevant authorities should inspect such cases,” a local business owner expressed his idea.

Thaung Zaw from immigration department said: “Only Myanmar citizens have the right to acquire property. The foreigners can’t even rent a house.”

However, most Chinese in Mandalay are fluent in Myanmar, making them easy to disguise as Myanmar natives, he added.  

“Authority concerned is taking the actions against the Chinese citizens who are living with the expired visa, get married to Myanmar women and come into the country after committing the criminal cases in their mother country. People are urged to inform the authority of illegal Chinese citizens. Those who accept the illegal Chinese citizens may face a jail sentence in accord with the immigration law,” Thaung Zaw continued.

Every month the authority has warned foreign citizens including Chinese citizens to stay here in conformity with the visa rules. More emphasis is being placed on foreigner affairs than before. 

Foreigners who come to the country along with the business visa are allowed to stay here for 70 days. They can stay here up to one year after extending their visas three times with the recommendations of respective ministry. 

“It needs to track back the money sources and purchase of many plots of land even though some opened departmental stores. Some people who are actually running their businesses are buying the plots of land. But the majority of people are doing like so. It can be said that there must be a link behind the inflow of money. The Chinese citizens are purchasing the plots of land not only in the urban areas but also in all part of the city. In the past, Myanmar people moved to the pre-urban areas after selling out their houses and lands. But now they are not in a position to own a house and plot of land even in such pre-urban areas. Due to it, they have to rent the houses to live in,” said Myo Myint Aung from Wathonedaray real estate agent. 

Some Chinese citizens are living in the jade market in Mahaaungmyay township of Mandalay. The majority of the Chinese citizens rent the houses to live in instead of hotels. It is not exactly known with which visa did they come to the country, said the gem merchants. 

 “As far as we know, for instance, let’s look at the revolving money between the Chinese citizens from the main land and the local Chinese. The local entrepreneurs import the number of motor cycles with import license but no need to repay all money at once. After that, the Chinese from the main land buy jade stone and houses and plots of land in Mandalay. There must be an involvement of the main land Chinese in this matter,” said Aung Ko, a merchant who runs the import-export business in the Muse-Kyel Gaung border.

There are nearly 70,000 China-born Myanmar citizens in Mandalay, according to the Immigration and National Registration Department.

“We can see many Chinese restaurants everywhere in Mandalay. The majority of Chinese people there are speaking the Chinese language, but not Myanmar language. It is difficult to indentify whether they are Myanmar or Chinese citizens at a time when the country sees the massive influx of tourists. Mandalay is packed with restaurants and hotels bearing the Chinese language even though the authority has allowed using only Myanmar and English languages in all restaurants in Mandalay,” said Ye Naing, a local resident from the Mahaaungmyay township.

Some entrepreneurs point out that it needs to trace back the inflow of money into the real estate market. 

Some Chinese people who sell pickled carrot and Malar fish curry have owned houses and apartments. Where does the money come from? The authority should scrutinise the purchase of lands and houses with high prices Aung Zin, a local from. 

With the massive influx of mainland Chinese in Mandalay, local people are worry that the city may become a place where China makes the money.