The Taiwanese mission in Myanmar has advised its companies to fly the Taiwan flag atop its buildings to ensure that their property is not mistaken for Chinese factories. It has also told the companies to hang signs in Myanmarese language identifying themselves as Taiwanese.
The Taiwan representative office has also reached out to business owners in Myanmar to identify themselves as "Taiwanese Enterprise" and display the Taiwan flag to protect themselves from the rising anti-China anger for supporting the coup.
Taiwan News reported on Monday that Tsang Yih Company, a Taiwanese company, was mistakenly targeted by the anti-coup protestors. The website quoted the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) as saying that the company's guardhouse and four vehicles were destroyed. Ten Taiwanese nationals were reportedly caught inside the premises when the attack happened but were later found to be safe.
Though Taiwan does not have diplomatic relations with Myanmar, it has a representative office, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO). Like most other countries, Myanmar does not recognise Taiwan as a separate country under pressure from China.
TECO also contacted the Myanmar government to provide security to Taiwanese people and property.
Myanmar has been on a boil after its military organised a coup against the democratically-elected government of popular leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the beginning of February. People have not accepted the military's decision to depose Suu Kyi, even if it is only for one year, as the coup leaders say.
In its justification for the coup, the military said that the elections held in late 2019 showed irregularities. In its defence it also says that it will hold elections after one year from the date of the coup. However, the people in Myanmar are not buying that argument and have come out on the streets to protest.
The people feel that China has snatched away their young democracy by supporting their military. People have alleged that China has flown technicians to Myanmar who have been helping the military curb internet services and also place cyber restrictions on the common people.
The initial protests against Chinese interference in Myanmarese affairs have now turned into rage. In the last couple of days, anti-coup people have begun to attack and set fire to Chinese factories. These attacks have happened in industrial areas that house Chinese factories. The protestors have also issued calls to boycott Chinese goods nationwide. They have been carrying out rallies with placards saying: "Myanmar coup, Made in China”.
The Army-run Myawadday television reported that security forces resorted to force after four garment factories and a fertiliser plant were set ablaze and about 2,000 people had stopped fire engines from reaching them.
The violence against Chinese investment in Myanmar is reminiscent of what had happened in neighbouring Vietnam also. In 2014, aggressive geo-politics by China against its southern neighbour led to violence by Vietnamese people against Chinese interests.
China had violated Vietnamese territorial waters by moving its oil rig in Vietnam waters close to the disputed Paracel islands, sullying the mood against Beijing. Vietnamese workers took to the streets in industrial areas and set fire to Chinese companies. Hanoi had to deploy riot police to curb the riots. Once again, companies from Taiwan, Singapore and Japan were mistakenly targeted by the angry Vietnamese.
Now, the anti-China sentiment in Myanmar has continued for weeks.
The Chinese embassy has asked the Myanmar government to provide protection to its people and firms, as well as punish the perpetrators. Earlier too, the embassy had denied allegations of supporting the generals. However, China has supported the junta at the international level, including at the UN Security Council.
