DESPITE THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT reportedly arresting hundreds of rioters, there is reason for people to question how the demonstrations could turn into such a deadly rampage against foreigners and their businesses in Vietnam, and why the relevant local governments failed to prevent the protests from turning fatal.

It may be understandable if a couple of extremists among the demonstrators committed acts of vandalism during the protests. But it is outrageous that the protests turned into violent onslaughts on our innocent compatriots, who are there helping Vietnam thrive.

More than a dozen people, most of them Chinese, are reportedly missing or killed. Reuters reports many more were injured, and their investment facilities in Vietnam burned and destroyed.