China Targeted by Vietnamese in Fiery Riots

China Targeted by Vietnamese in Fiery Riots

In BINH DUONG PROVINCE, Vietnam there were dozens of foreign factories that were burned down. These buildings were burnt down by thousands of Vietnamese workers who were outraged with China’s latest efforts to control the South China Sea just off the coast of Vietnam. The workers began rioting and attacking businesses from countries that had invested in their nation. On Wednesday, the Philippines began protests against China but no other Southeast Asian nation is backing the two most likely because of China’s investment and aid in their countries. When China had deployed an oil rig with other ships along the coast of Vietnam, the Vietnamese began ramming the Chinese ships while the Chinese used water cannons at the Vietnamese vessels. The protests by the Vietnamese were reported to have had around 19,000 workers involved. The protests escalated and rioters began looting out of the anger towards China. One Taiwanese factory tried to avoid the attacks by handing a banner outside of the building that said, “No Chinese working here.” The companies that had Chinese signs hung were destroyed or damaged while those who had flags of other countries were for the most part untouched by the protestors. There were 447 suspects that were detained and the government looks to restore order as soon as they can.

-Monique Martinez

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/15/world/asia/foreign-factories-in-vietnam-weigh-damage-in-anti-china-riots.html?ref=world&_r=1