An escalation of violence and scaremongering

I have been a little cavalier in my attitude and the situation that now surrounds us here in Vietnam regarding the Chinese conflict.  The newspapers are full of it all, so too are the online websites. Newspapers and social media are having a field day whipping up a frenzy of anger. As you would see from this video link, except its all in Vietnamese. There is a broadcasting explosion.

The situation as best as I'm able to make  out is that China have been bullying Vietnam for awhile. The latest episode escalated when the Chinese towed some oil rigs down into the East Sea, which was once called the South China Sea. This is off the coast of Vietnam, roughly in the middle of the country. The Vietnamese protested, the Chinese fired shots  across the bow of a Vietnamese navy vessel, or hit, as in rammed a navy vessel.

The Vietnamese were rightly angry and the people then vented their anger and some protests were held. The government I believe opened a Panadora's Box which they are now struggling to close. Word on the street was that they encouraged, and allowed the protests to happen, so consequently more protests happened especially outside the Chinese embassy which is at the end of my street and close to my apartment. The government tried to close things down, hence last weekend closing off the streets, closing down coffee shops etc in the centre of town. They don't want people to congregate. This could lead to more protests. Of course scaremongering and gossip have become the order of the day fueling the unrest. People are very angry.

On Monday a Taiwanese factory in the Binh Uong district in HCMC was looted and burnt,  along with other premises, although the Taiwanese aren't too friendly with the Chinese either. However that sparked a few flames, angered a number of people and things have escalated. 26 people have died. Groups of rioters are around the centre of the city.

Firstly some of the Chinese families at our school have been threatened, their houses attacked. The Chinese students  are not at school. Some have shifted, but lots have fled the country. One wee secondary sweetheart texts his friends. His family was holed up in their apartment, too frightened to go out.
After the destruction of the factory the Taiwanese students are not at school. Many families have fled the country. There is an International School in the area of the factory destruction, that was closed for 4 days because of the violence and looting. The students attending that school are mostly Taiwanese. The police believe they have that situation under control. The police seem very nervous on all the street corners. We believe a few of the Japanese families have left too.

Having opened Panadora's Box I believe the government are hard pressed to keep the lid on the situation. A nation of people who may well have been repressed, have seen a chink in the armour and taking full advantage. The young and the educated could be seen as using this opportunity to protest about about everything. A spat with the Chinese may well be an opportunity and a vehicle for reform, who would know

The roads around my apartment and close to the Chinese Embassy are blocked off at night. They are expecting more protests this weekend. Our reception area has notices telling us to carry our passports with us to allow entry to the area/ our street. The Chinese parents have emailed various teachers, word on the street is that there will be an escalation of violence this weekend.

The riot police are assembling in the bank carpark by my apartment. The armed guards around the Embassy have increased, and so too have the fire power. Machine guns, AK 47's. In the evening the guards are wearing bullet proof vests, helmets and have shields. They nervously talk on their radios. Two cages of dogs were stationed outside the embassy on Thursday morning.

As for the Vietnamese people I work with:
Some lived through the war and don't want to relive that experience. A plane flew over head, oh my goodness they are attacking, no that's a Vietnam airlines plane and the school is under the flight path to the airport. Others  are naive. They believe that Vietnam attacked and beat America and are prepared to take on China. I'm sure they underestimate the military strength of China. Many are frightened. There is much sorrow for the families of the workers at the factory who have lost their jobs and livelihoods. And there is much scaremongering.

The children at school are all talking about the situation, even the young ones. They know their peers have left, or are in hiding and they know why. We had an interesting incident in assembly on Friday. One of the staff members was doing a presentation about what makes him unique. He told the students he wanted to live and work in another country so he went to Taiwan to work. Instantly there was a ground swell of noise on the word Taiwan.

I feel safe at the moment, and my Vietnamese friends calm and caring.