May 13, 2014
Press Release No. 093
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) strongly condemns the violence done to ROC businesses by Vietnamese protesting mainland China’s deployment of an oil rig in the waters off the Shisha (Paracel) Islands. MOFA expresses serious concern for the safety of affected ROC businesspeople and their business facilities in Vietnam Binh Duong Province.
1. MOFA strongly condemns violence and urges the people of Vietnam to exercise restraint and refrain from irrationally damaging the manufacturing facilities of Taiwan companies and imperiling Taiwan businesspeople in Vietnam. Such actions would dampen the interest of Taiwan investors in Vietnam and harm the longstanding friendship between the people of the ROC and Vietnam.
2. The ROC government is seriously concerned about recent developments. In the wake of the attacks, MOFA promptly contacted Representative Bui Trong Van of the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, demanding that the Vietnamese government protect the property and personal safety of Taiwan businesspeople. Representative Bui promised his government’s full cooperation.
3. The ROC representative office in Vietnam (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hanoi) has maintained close contact with Vietnam Ministry of Public Security and demanded that local public security officials be sent to ensure the personal safety of Taiwan businesspeople. On May 9, the TECO in Ho Chi Minh City requested the local Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce to notify ROC nationals living in the area to pay heed to their personal safety and stay inside their homes if at all possible. On May 13, its officials traveled to Binh Duong Province to express concern to the local Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and visited the local government to demand it ensure the safety of Taiwan businesspeople and their homes.
4. Officials from the southern office of Vietnam Ministry of Public Security have arrived in Binh Duong Province to supervise and direct the local public security department. There have been reports that several instigators of violence have been arrested. MOFA will continue to press both the central and local governments in Vietnam to resolve the situation as quickly as possible and prevent its escalation. TECO in Hanoi and TECO in Ho Chi Minh City are committed to protecting the personal safety and property of Taiwan businesspeople in Vietnam.
5. MOFA would like to again remind ROC nationals planning visits to Vietnam for business or tourism to pay special care to their safety and to plan their itinerary carefully. ROC nationals residing in Vietnam are urged to remain vigilant and, in case of emergency, to immediately contact TECO in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. The emergency hotlines for TECO in Hanoi are +84-913-219-986 (for overseas callers) and 0913-219-986 (for local callers); and for TECO in Ho Chi Minh City, +84-903-927-019 (for overseas callers) and 0903-927-019 (for local callers). (E)