Protesters in Vietnam express anti-Chinese frustrations

Hundreds of people across Vietnam have protested against China's role in a sea dispute - the largest rallies of their kind recently in the communist country. In the capital, Hanoi, demonstrators sang patriotic songs and held up placards opposite the Chinese embassy.

Tensions have been running high after Vietnamese ships clashed with Chinese vessels guarding an oilrig in a contested area of the South China Sea. The protests appear to have the Vietnamese government's approval.

The country's communist authorities have broken up previous anti-China demonstrations because of fears that they may be hijacked by pro-democracy activists. Hanoi has also used the demonstrations to communicate its anger over what it sees as Beijing's aggressive infringement of Vietnamese sovereignty.

The protesters opposite the Chinese embassy on Sunday included war veterans and students. Large anti-China protests were also seen in other Vietnamese cities.

Earlier this month, ships from the two countries collided near a Chinese oil-drilling platform in the South China Sea. The US has accused China of provocation, and warned that the dispute could destabilise the region. The issue was also discussed by foreign ministers at the 10-member ASEAN summit of Southeast Asian Nations in Myanmar (also known as Burma).

AJP