China on Thursday accused Vietnam of acting in connivance with the rioters, who reportedly killed at least 21 Chinese nationals during protests against the deployment of a Chinese oil rig to drill in disputed waters.
“We are following these reports closely. Deeply shocked by these reports and express our serious concerns,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
Tensions flared up between China and Vietnam over
attempts by a Chinese oil rig to drill in the disputed waters in South China Sea, following which naval vessels from both the countries rammed into each other besides using water cannons at each other.
While reports from Hanoi said 21 people were killed in widespread riots targeting Chinese factories and projects, China’s official news agency Xinhua reported that two Chinese were killed and 10 others “unaccounted for”.
It said 149 people were injured and over 100 hospitalised after rioters attacked Chinese companies in Vietnam’s central Ha Tinh Province. The riots, which broke-out in southern Vietnam on Tuesday, has spread to central and northern parts of that country, stated to be the worst since the two countries fought a border war in 1979.