China’s potential control over economic zones leads to more protests in Vietnam

Vietnamese police have arrested eight more people after protests a week ago over a proposed law on special economic zones that protesters fear would fall into the hands of Chinese investors.

The men from the south central province of Binh Thuan were accused of disturbing public order, opposing officials and damaging state property, the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.

Protests against the law took place across the country, including in the southern commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City where seven people were arrested for allegedly disturbing security and opposing officials.

Protesters fear the three proposed special economic zones, where land could be rented for up to 99 years, would be dominated by investors from China.

Lawmakers have postponed the passage of the law until October.

Security on Sunday was tight in many cities and provinces in Vietnam, with a large presence of police in public areas. But in central Ha Tinh province, live-stream footage on Facebook showed thousands of people attending a Sunday mass protesting peacefully against the laws.