Taiwan condemns violence against Taiwan businesses in Vietnam (update)

Taipei, May 14 (CNA) Taiwan condemned the violent acts Tuesday of Vietnamese protesters that damaged factories and facilities owned by Taiwanese businessmen as Vietnamese anger toward China was reaching its highest level in years.

Vietnamese have been staging protests after Beijing deployed an oil rig in disputed waters as naval ships from both countries engaged in a tense standoff near the rig off the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.

Some Vietnamese protesters could not tell Taiwanese businesses from Chinese ones and destroyed any stores and facilities that have Chinese-language signs. One Taiwan-based factory in Vietnam's Binh Duong province was destroyed, and at least two Tawainese business people were injured, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Location of the Vietnamese province of Binh Duong:

A Taiwanese business leader said four Taiwanese-invested factories were set ablaze and more than 600 others were damaged by violent protesters.

The ministry expressed strong condemnation in a statement and expressed serious concerns over the safety of Taiwanese citizens in the communist country.

Urging the Vietnamese people to restrain themselves from irrational acts, the ministry said such violent behaviors have harmed the long-term friendship between the two sides and will affect Taiwanese businessmen's willingness to invest in the country.

Taiwan also issued a yellow travel alert right after the statement, urging people to pay special attention to their safety if travel to the Binh Duong province cannot be avoided.

(By James Lee)ENDITEM/sc

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