Protestors target Chinese factories in Vietnam

Vietnamese authorities have called for calm after thousands of workers in the southern Binh Duong province attacked up to 15 clothing and footwear factories believing them to be Chinese-owned. Some of the factories were set on fire, with many others being forced to halt production.

Taiwan’s Thong Dung Footwear and Kingmaker Footwear, China’s Far Eastern Apparel and Texhong Textile, some Li & Fung suppliers, and Hong Kong-listed shoe maker Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings were all forced to temporarily halt production in Vietnam.

Reports say up to 20,000 workers took to the streets to protest the deployment of a state-owned Chinese oil rig in disputed waters near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. They targeted Taiwanese and Hong Kong factories believing them to be Chinese-owned.

After the protests in the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks in Binh Duong, a sign appeared on one factory gate tried to discourage attacks: “We are South Korean, no Chinese officials work at our company.” Another showed a Japanese flag and the words: “We always support Vietnam.”

For the full story, see the June 2014 edition of Textiles South East Asia. Not a subscriber? Sign up HERE