Protests in Vietnam

This item appears on page 68 of the July 2014 issue.

In mid-May, after China began drilling in ocean waters claimed by Vietnam, protests began in the town of Thuâ·n An, in Vietnam’s southern province of Bình Du'o'ng, soon spreading to surrounding industrial parks. 

More than 20,000 Vietnamese demonstrated, many attacking Chinese nationals and torching China-owned factories. Korean, Japanese, Singaporean and Taiwanese factories also were targeted. Two Chinese nationals were killed and dozens were injured at a Taiwanese steel mill.

Since the protests began, China has evacuated at least 3,000 workers from Vietnam by ship.