2014 Vietnam anti-China protests

{{Further|Territorial disputes in the South China Sea|Haiyang Shiyou 981 standoff}}

• May 11: Anti-China protests started in Hanoi, Da Nang, Can Tho, and Ho Chi Minh City. The size and number of protests were unprecedented as the government took the unusual step of permitting street protests to show its displeasure with Beijing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/vietnam-mayor-calls-for-end-to-anti-china-protests/2014/05/17/433c6de4-dd8e-11e3-a837-8835df6c12c4_story.html |title=Vietnam's PM calls for end to anti-China protests |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2014-05-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518153032/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/vietnam-mayor-calls-for-end-to-anti-china-protests/2014/05/17/433c6de4-dd8e-11e3-a837-8835df6c12c4_story.html |archive-date=2014-05-18 }}
• May 12: Workers in a Bình Dương industrial park went on strike to join the anti-China protest.
• May 13: The protests in Bình Dương and Dong Nai escalated into violent riots. The first industrial parks and factories with Chinese characters on their signboards were hit in the first wave of attacks. Other foreign plants (including American, German, and South Korean plants) were vandalized by the second and third waves of rioters. Several factories were burned down overnight, their equipment damaged and their stocks looted by rioters. One death was reported in the torching of a Taiwanese-invested bicycle factory. Over a thousand were arrested,{{Cite web |url=http://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/phap-luat/hon-1-000-nguoi-bi-bat-trong-cuoc-bieu-tinh-qua-khich-2992939.html |title=Hơn 1.000 người bị bắt trong cuộc biểu tình quá khích |publisher=VnExpress |date=2014-05-20 |access-date=2014-05-28 |archive-date=2014-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529154033/http://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/phap-luat/hon-1-000-nguoi-bi-bat-trong-cuoc-bieu-tinh-qua-khich-2992939.html |url-status=live }} with many claiming that they had been manipulated by people who distributed flags and T-shirts and later joined the riot.{{Cite web |url=http://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/thoi-su/nhieu-ke-kich-dong-cong-nhan-trong-cuoc-bieu-tinh-phan-doi-trung-quoc-2990053.html |title=Nhiều kẻ kích động công nhân trong cuộc biểu tình phản đối Trung Quốc |publisher=VnExpress |date=2014-05-14 |access-date=2014-05-28 |archive-date=2014-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526084918/http://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/thoi-su/nhieu-ke-kich-dong-cong-nhan-trong-cuoc-bieu-tinh-phan-doi-trung-quoc-2990053.html |url-status=live }}
• May 14: Riots flare up in the Formosa Steel Mill in Vung Ang, central Hà Tĩnh Province,{{Cite web |url=http://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/phap-luat/hang-nghin-nguoi-xo-xat-o-khu-kinh-te-vung-ang-2990962.html |title=Hàng nghìn người xô xát ở khu kinh tế Vũng Áng |publisher= VnExpress |date=2014-05-15}} in response to a rumour of a Vietnamese worker killed there. Casualty reports varied from 2 to 21.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27420008 |title=Vietnam-China tensions: One dead in Taiwan mill protest |publisher=BBC |date=2014-05-15 |access-date=2018-06-21 |archive-date=2018-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825134236/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27420008 |url-status=live }} At Binh Duong, in fear of a second wave of riot, many workers formed a barricade inside their factories and chanted "Protecting the workplace means protecting Spratly and Paracel island"{{Cite web |url=http://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/cong-dong/anh/cong-nhan-dan-hang-bao-ve-nha-may-khoi-bi-kich-dong-pha-hoai-2990617.html |title=Công nhân dàn hàng bảo vệ nhà máy khỏi bị kích động phá hoại |publisher=VnExpress |date=2014-05-14 |access-date=2014-05-28 |archive-date=2014-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528151419/http://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/cong-dong/anh/cong-nhan-dan-hang-bao-ve-nha-may-khoi-bi-kich-dong-pha-hoai-2990617.html |url-status=live }} Chinese nationals began to flee to Cambodia in hundreds to escape the riots.
• May 16: Vietnamese and Filipinos staged a joint protest in Manila.{{Cite news |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/philippine-vietnamese-join-anti-china-street-protest-20140516 |title=Filipinos, Vietnamese join anti-China street protest |publisher=The Straits Times |date=2014-05-16 |access-date=2014-05-16 |archive-date=2014-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516195513/http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/philippine-vietnamese-join-anti-china-street-protest-20140516 |url-status=live }}
• May 18: A planned second protest in Hanoi and Saigon, which was called for by several political and dissident groups, was subdued. According to some witnesses, 15 to 20 protesters were seen arrested and thrown into unmarked vans. The government also issued an official statement to urge the populace to express their patriotism in a peaceful manner. Further protests by overseas Vietnamese continued in various locations worldwide, including London, Sydney, Paris, Houston, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles, especially in front of Chinese embassies and consulates. In response to the riot, the Chinese government evacuated around 3,000 Chinese nationals from Vietnam by chartered planes and ships, including 16 injured Chinese workers.
• May 23: A woman died after immolating herself in front of the Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City in protest against China.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/23/vietnamese-woman-dies-self-immolation-protest-china |title=Vietnamese woman dies in self-immolation protest against China |work= World news |publisher= theguardian.com |date=2014-05-23}}
• May 25: Another wave of protests occurred in various overseas countries including Hong Kong,[http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-vietnam-china-hongkong-idUKKBN0E50D220140525 "Vietnamese stage small anti-China protest in Hong Kong"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305214411/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-vietnam-china-hongkong-idUKKBN0E50D220140525 |date=2016-03-05 }}, Adam Rose, UK Reuters, 2014-05-25 and Sweden.{{cite AV media |year=2014 |title="A Vietnamese demonstration in Malmö 2014" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJg6Qg-JjJs |access-date= 2014-06-03 |time=2:12 |location=Sweden |publisher=Jabir Al Fatah |ref=YTSweden20140525 }}
• May 26: Thanh Nien newspaper reported that two men had been sentenced to jail by a Vietnamese court for taking part in deadly anti-China rioting. 23-year-old Le Van Nghiem was sentenced to three years in prison for "causing public disorder" and property destruction. 18-year-old Chau Vinh Tuong was sentenced to one year in prison for stealing a computer.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-26/vietnam-jails-two-over-anti-china-riots/5479466 "Vietnam jails two over anti-China riots"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602132346/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-26/vietnam-jails-two-over-anti-china-riots/5479466 |date=2014-06-02 }}, ABC.net.au, May 26, 2014
• June 5: The sinking of another Vietnamese ship by Chinese ships was caught on film.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-vietnam-idUSKBN0EG0X020140605 "Video shows Vietnam fishing boat sink after collision with Chinese vessel"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518210104/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-vietnam-idUSKBN0EG0X020140605 |date=2021-05-18 }}, Reuters, June 5, 2014
• June 20: A 71-year-old man of Vietnamese descent attempted to set himself on fire at the entrance to the Silver Lake Community in Florida's Manatee County, leaving a note protesting recent China's move. The man later died on June 23.[http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/unidentified-florida-man-attempts-botched-suicideprotest-of-chinese-rig-27609.html "Unidentified Florida man attempts botched suicide-protest of Chinese rig"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714133045/http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/unidentified-florida-man-attempts-botched-suicideprotest-of-chinese-rig-27609.html |date=2014-07-14 }}, Thanh Nien News, June 23, 2014.
• July 6: Another pro-Vietnam protest took place in Hong Kong.[http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1548182/pro-vietnam-protesters-march-army-attire-against-chinas-arrogant "Pro-Vietnam protesters march in army attire against China's 'arrogant' territorial claims"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707152945/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1548182/pro-vietnam-protesters-march-army-attire-against-chinas-arrogant |date=2014-07-07 }}, South China Morning Post, 7 July 2014.
• July 16: It was reported by the Xinhua News Agency that China National Petroleum Corporation was moving the disputed Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig towards China's Hainan island.[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28322355 "China moves Vietnam row oil rig"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425085017/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28322355 |date=2018-04-25 }}, Nga Pham, BBC News, July 16, 2014.

Both Bình Dương and Đồng Nai provinces are highly industrialized and have a dense concentration of foreign-invested industrial parks. Anti-China demonstrations here quickly developed into a full-scale worker riot, where factories were looted, smashed, or burnt. Swarms of rioters on motorbikes mistakenly targeted South Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Singaporean businesses as Chinese and vandalized them.

Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company and associated port facilities in Vung Ang, Hà Tĩnh Province in central Vietnam, 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Hanoi, are operated by the Taiwanese conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group, one of the largest foreign investors in Vietnam. The complex employs more than 2,600 foreign workers, among whom more than 1,500 are Chinese nationals. Friction arose between locals and foreign workers, and clashes broke out sporadically. {{Cite web |url=http://tuoitre.vn/Pages/Printview.aspx?ArticleID=575548 |title=Tuổi Trẻ Online – Việc làm Online |access-date=2014-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025004836/http://tuoitre.vn/Pages/Printview.aspx?ArticleID=575548 |archive-date=2013-10-25 |url-status=dead }} In 2013, a Taiwanese accountant was stabbed to death in one such clash. {{Cite web |url=http://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/ra-ngo-gap-nguoi-trung-quoc-850300.htm |title=Ra ngõ gặp… người Trung Quốc! – Kinh doanh – Dân trí |access-date=2014-05-28 |archive-date=2014-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327130954/http://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/ra-ngo-gap-nguoi-trung-quoc-850300.htm |url-status=live }}

On May 11, a 1,000-strong group of workers and locals formed an anti-China parade that turned into a riot. The mob stormed the steel mill, lit fires at the furnace and several buildings, and hunted down the Chinese workers. At least one Chinese worker was killed, and 90 were injured. {{Cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/05/15/riots-vietnam/9113765/ |title=Riots in Vietnam leave 1 Chinese dead, 90 injured |website=USA Today |access-date=2017-08-23 |archive-date=2017-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121090900/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/05/15/riots-vietnam/9113765/ |url-status=live }}

Initially, Hanoi lauded the "patriotic" displays by its citizens, but reversed their statements after the protests turned into violent riots citing "the country's image being stained as a safe destination for sorely needed foreign investment". After hundreds of people were arrested in the following crackdown the Vietnamese prime minister, Nguyễn Tấn Dũng stated "The Vietnamese government has [...] contained the acts of law infringement and [will] strictly punish violators in accordance with the law As a result, the situation has become totally stable. The enterprises' business and production have come back to normal," he added.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/22/vietnamese-authorities-detain-hundreds-riots-chinese "Vietnam detains hundreds after riots targeting Chinese businesses"] The Guardian, May 22, 2014

After the sentencing of two men to prison, the Chinese government called for further investigation, strict punishment, and compensation. The Vietnamese government said it would assist riot-hit companies with tax breaks, rent waivers, and lines of credit.

• {{flag|Taiwan}} issued a condemnation of the protests by the Vietnamese and denounced them for attacking Taiwanese property.[http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/140513/taiwan-condemns-violent-protest-vietnam "Taiwan condemns violent protest in Vietnam"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515210753/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/140513/taiwan-condemns-violent-protest-vietnam |date=2014-05-15 }}

On May 21, the Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that four people were killed and more than 100 others injured in the violence a week before.[http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1517231/chinese-firm-says-vietnam-riot-killed-four-employees "Chinese firm says Vietnam riot killed four employees"] South China Morning Post, May 21, 2014

On May 15, Reuters reported that about 100 people in Hà Tĩnh Province were injured and sent to the hospital due to the violence on the night of the 14th. A doctor told reporters that in central Hà Tĩnh that five Vietnamese workers and 16 other people described as Chinese were killed on Wednesday night in rioting.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vietnam-china-riots-casualties-idUSBREA4E03Y20140515 |title=Up to 21 dead, doctor says, as anti-China riots spread in Vietnam |work=Reuters |date=2014-05-15}}

Central News Agency (Republic of China) confirmed that clash between Chinese and Vietnamese workers and locals at the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Mill had resulted in the death of a Chinese worker.{{Cite news |url=http://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/201405150338-1.aspx |script-title=zh:越南反華暴動 台廠2陸幹死亡 |publisher=中央社 |date=2014-05-15 |access-date=2014-05-15 |language=zh |archive-date=2014-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120719/http://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/201405150338-1.aspx |url-status=live }}

On May 15, a dead body was found in a burnt down Taiwanese factory and confirmed as being a Chinese member of the staff.

{{notelist}}

• Anti-Han sentiment{{Cite web |date=19 July 2017 |title=Anti-Han Sentiment as a Risk for the New Southbound Policy |url=https://globaltaiwan.org/2017/07/when-worlds-collide-anti-han-sentiment-as-a-risk-for-the-new-southbound-policy/ |access-date=18 January 2025 |website=Global Taiwan Institute}}{{cite book |title=Taiwan's Economic and Diplomatic Challenges and Opportunities |date=2021 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |editor1=Mariah Thornton |page=102 |doi=10.4324/9781003091639 |isbn=978-1-003-09163-9 |editor2=Robert Ash |editor3=Dafydd Fell}}
• China–Vietnam relations
• 2018 Vietnam protests

{{reflist|4}}

• {{cite news|author=Kyodo News International |date=May 13, 2014 |title=Taiwan condemns violent protest in Vietnam |url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/140513/taiwan-condemns-violent-protest-vietnam |newspaper=Global Post |access-date=14 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515210753/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/140513/taiwan-condemns-violent-protest-vietnam |archive-date=15 May 2014 }}

{{Anti-Chinese sentiment}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vietnam anti-China protests, 2014}}

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Category:May 2014 in Vietnam