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Patrick Boehler

Hundreds of Chinese were today fleeing Vietnam ahead of expected large-scale anti-China demonstrations planned for the weekend, following the deaths of at least two during riots.
While many have sought refuge in neighbouring Cambodia, more have rushed to major airports to fly to back to China until the violence dies down.
Among the groups of mostly middle-aged men flying out of Ho Chih Minh City Airport today was a shoe factory manager, surnamed Guo, who said he had been forced to hide at his home in Vietnam’s second city before he was able to fly back to Guangzhou.
Watch: Protesters torch Chinese factories in Vietnam

Guo said he feared for his safety after his workplace was looted by “hundreds”, with police unable to stop the protesters. He added that he had been shown pictures of Chinese people beaten up by rioters in Vietnam’s industrial areas.
“I was afraid. Friends sent me photos of Chinese people beaten up. They beat up every Chinese they found,” he told the South China Morning Post. “We just hid at home [until] the consulate told us it was safe to drive to the airport.
“It was completely unexpected. I was out of the office when they called to say it had been looted,” he said, adding that the police were overpowered. “You can’t stop it when there are so many people.”

He said he was one of 11 Chinese managerial staff to leave the plant. “We left two staff at the factory. We’ll come back as soon as they say its safe.”
Vietnam's Council of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce has issued a warning to Chinese businesses that may be targeted in the next few days. It urged these firms to raise the Vietnamese flag over their offices and to remove or cover Chinese characters on their buildings or gates.
At least two Chinese have died, and around 90 been injured during the riots, in which Vietnamese protesters attacked Chinese businesses and torched factories over Beijing’s establishment of an oil rig in the disputed Paracel Islands weeks ago.
Guo said he left his family behind in Guangdong when the factory moved to Vietnam two years ago, as labour was cheaper.
 
He said authorities had visited the looted factory soon afterwards and offered a tax rebate as compensation for the damage. But Guo is sceptical. “You can’t expect compensation here,” he said, adding that about 100 local factory workers did not participate in the looting.
“These are good people; they want to return to work,” he said.
The Taiwanese chamber of commerce warned that the protests would continue in the northern industrial zones, downtown Hanoi and other cities where there are Chinese businesses.
"All companies should be prepared to avoid the situation that the protest evolving to violent activities," it said, listing the safety recommendations.
"Enhance safety; ask the local government for help," it said in a statement. "Stay away from the protesting crowds to avoid riots. Do not walk close to take photos."

Two of the 10 flights on the departure board at Ho Chih Minh City Airport are headed to Hong Kong, and two each to the mainland and Taiwan.
In the departures hall around 50 mainlanders and Taiwanese in a room of mostly tourists asked each other where they were from and where they were headed. Many were discussing the riots, asking, “Was there any damage?”
At the arrival area, large billboards for the Bank of China, Bank of Communications and HSBC loom over passengers. One American-Chinese tourist in his 20s, when asked about the violence, said he wasn’t too concerned.
“I’ll be sure to keep away from that. Hopefully I will be busy drinking.”
With additional reporting from Keira Lu Huang


‘They beat up every Chinese they found’: Residents flee Vietnam ahead of planned weekend protest

Mobs burned Chinese-owned factory in Vietnam.

A handout photo from a Hanoi resident shows alleged looting after the riots in Binh Duong. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Vietnamese protesters hold placards during an anti-China rally with their Philippine counterparts. Photo: AFP

The Chinese factory in Binh Duong province was torched by protesters. A Taiwan business council warned more Chinese businesses would be targeted and to take precautions like covering Chinese characters on their building. Photo: AP

A damaged Chinese owned factory is seen in Vietnam's southern Binh Duong province.

More than 1,000 Hongkongers cancel Vietnam trips in wake of rioting

Vietnamese hold a protest to show anger against Beijing's deployment of an oil rig in the disputed islands. Photo: AFP

Chinese nationals cross from Vietnam into Cambodia at a checkpoint in Binh Duong province. Photo: Reuters

A damaged factory office in Binh Duong. Photo: EPA

Wrecked motorcycles after a riot at a steel plant in Ha Tinh. Photo: Reuters

Workers hold banners reading 'Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands belong to Vietnam', near Formosa factory, in Ha Tinh, Vietnam on Thursday. Photo: EPA

Workers hold banners, which read, "Please protest in the right way" (top), and "We are looking at soldiers on islands, and the Paracels and the Spratlys belong to Vietnam", during a protest in Binh Duong province. Photo: Reuters

Firefighters stand across from the main entrance of Tan Than Industries as the Taiwanese bicycle factory burns, in Di An Town, Binh Duong province, Vietnam on Wednesday. Photo: AP

A guard points at a broken window inside a factory building in Binh Duong province following anti-China riots. Photo: EPA

Firefighters stand across from the main entrance of Tan Than Industries as the Taiwanese bicycle factory burns, in Di An Town, Binh Duong province, Vietnam on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Firefighters rest near a damaged Chinese owned shoe factory in Vietnam's southern Binh Duong. Photo: Reuters

Smoke rises from the Formosa Plastics factory in southern Vietnam. Photo: SCMP

Police hold back Taiwanese protesters in front of Vietnam's economic and cultural office in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Reuters

China’s state-run newspaper backs ‘non-peaceful’ steps against Vietnam 

Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Fang Fenghui holds a joint news conference with Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Workers wave Vietnamese national flags during an anti-China protest at a Chinese invested shoe factory in Vietnam's Thai Binh province. Photo: Reuters

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Photo: Xinhua

Sense of fear lingers for Chinese nationals in Vietnam after violent protests

Wei Lung Printing and Packaging sales and marketing executive Jeff Lin in his looted company office in Binh Duong. Photo: Patrick Boehler

Chinese nationals wait for flights home at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Reuters

Police trucks are parked outside the damaged Taiwanese Song Tain factory in Vietnam's southern Binh Duong province. Photo: Reuters

A burnt-out bicycle factory on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh. Photo: Reuters

News

China

Chinese factory manager tells of looting and fear after mob storms Chinese plant


Among the groups flying out of Ho Chih Minh City Airport today was a shoe factory manager who said he had been forced to hide at his home before he was able to fly back to Guangzhou.


New | ‘They beat up every Chinese they found’: Residents flee Vietnam ahead of planned weekend protest

Chinese factory manager tells of looting and fear after mob storms Chinese plant