Anti-China protests: dozens arrested as Vietnam patriotism spirals into unrest
Vietnamese protesters arrested after clashes with police over a proposed law on special economic zones they fear will be dominated by Chinese investors
The loudspeakers strung between the palm trees lining the beach told citizens to stay calm. The message was that three planned new special economic zones that critics feared would be dominated by neighbouring China were not yet set in stone.
“Stay wise, be calm. Go home! Go back to daily life. Don’t join the protests,” the prim voice said in Vietnamese in the seaside town of Nha Trang in south-central Vietnam.
On the civic square opposite that pink Nha Trang landmark Tram Huong Tower, in the strangely wintry weather, a crowd of protesters had gathered.
There looked to be less than 50 mostly middle-aged people, some sporting loudhailers and sunglasses in an apparent bid to hide their identity.
But the protesters brandishing banners saying “Khong cho” (no trading) – were raucous amid an orgy of beeping.
Later, straggling across town, a much larger motorbike-borne crowd amassed. Amid rumours that pickpockets would be weaving through crowds, the mood was peaceful but passionate – a street party with angry, nationalist overtones.