According to reports from the Chinese media, the local government of a city located in the north-western part of the country was forced to apologize on Friday after the military accidentally threw tear gas into the city.
According to the Global Times in an apology statement released online, the government of Baishan, a city in Jilin Province, revealed that a sudden change in wind (from the outskirts of the city to the city center), during an annual military exercise, has caused the inconvenience with tear gas.
"We inhaled very pungent gases, and our nose and throat were wary of us for days, but no one took care to tell us what happened," a local resident reported to the hospital, adding that "not everyone believes that the incident was only due to a military exercise ".
The Baishan authorities said the effects of tear gas would have eased with the passing of the hours but, in any case, they advised local residents to consult a doctor in case of persistent discomfort.
It is not clear exactly what happened. Given its proximity to North Korea, the incident raised fears that North Korea could launch tear gas into China.
On the provinces of Jilin and Liaoning, both bordering North Korea, there has been a long concern over the possibility of a chemical, biological or nuclear catastrophe.