May 18, 2014
No. 102
I.Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y. L. Lin met on the morning of May 18 with Representative Bui Trong Van of the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei for a fourth time since the May 13 Vietnam riots that destroyed the property and endangered the safety of Taiwan businesspeople there. Minister Lin reiterated the firm condemnation and concern of the Republic of China （Taiwan）toward the violence. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs （MOFA）, seeking to have Vietnam take responsibility in a concrete manner, has made three demands of the Vietnam government: an apology, prosecution of perpetrators, and compensation for damages. The Vietnam government has made a clear and positive response to these demands.
II.Minister Lin time and again expressed to Representative Bui the grave concern the government and people of the ROC have for the May 18 protests in Vietnam, and requested that Vietnam take all precautions to protect Taiwan businesspeople and compatriots in Vietnam. The Vietnam government has dispatched military and public security forces to protect or patrol areas where the Taiwan expatriate community lives, factories owned by Taiwan citizens, meeting places often used by Taiwan businesspeople, places prepared as emergency shelters for Taiwan citizens, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office （TECO）in Hanoi and TECO in Ho Chi Minh City.
III.On the morning of May 18, MOFA began watching events unfold in Vietnam, keeping up demands on the Vietnam government to use all measures to prevent violence against or destruction of factories owned by Taiwan businesspeople throughout the nation. Representative Bui said that Vietnam Premier Nguyen Tan Dung had issued a directive forbidding illegal protest activities. He continued that the Vietnam government would use all of its power to prevent violence from recurring and had pledged to protect the safety of Taiwan businesspeople and overseas compatriots in Vietnam.
IV.MOFA, TECO in Hanoi, and TECO in Ho Chi Minh City have marshaled their resources and, since May 13, maintained close contact with the Vietnam government, worked to protect the lives and property of Taiwan businesspeople and overseas compatriots in Vietnam, helped Taiwan businesspeople seeking to return home schedule flights and arrange transportation, stepped up communication and coordination with Taiwan businesspeople across Vietnam, and provided updates. Minister Lin has made four demands of the Vietnam government: ensure the personal safety of Taiwan businesspeople and overseas compatriots, provide compensation for losses incurred by Taiwan businesspeople, protect the rights and interests of Taiwan businesspeople and other nationals in Vietnam, and take steps to restore Taiwan investors’ confidence in Vietnam.
V.MOFA has dispatched Kung Chung-chen, Director-General of its Bureau of Consular Affairs, to visit Taiwan businesspeople in and around Ho Chi Minh City, learn more about losses that have been incurred, and speak directly with Vietnam officials on how to move forward. Three other officials who previously served in Vietnam have also been dispatched to help provide assistance to Taiwan businesspeople and overseas compatriots.
VI.An ROC Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs is to lead a delegation to Vietnam to learn more about damage done to Taiwan businesspeople’s interests and help them seek compensation. MOFA has also requested that the Vietnam government help arrange the delegation’s schedule, have the delegation meet with their Vietnamese counterparts of appropriately senior rank, and act responsibly concerning the compensation of Taiwan businesspeople. Representative Bui has pledged that his government will cooperate fully and handle the issue of compensation properly.
VII.Speaking to reports that the nameplate of TECO in Ho Chi Minh City has been covered, the Minister explained that this is because the building housing these offices is being renovated, not because of the recent turmoil. The nameplate at TECO’s temporary but fully functioning offices, in a different location, is visible. （E）