On February 16, a spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that eight Vietnamese workers involved in the beating of a Chinese tourist at the Vietnam border have been suspended from their jobs.
The spokesman also reaffirmed an earlier commitment by Chinese authorities to request proper punishment for the culprits as well as reparations for the crime from the Vietnamese government. Part of the reparations would include an apology to the Chinese people.
The original incident occurred on February 7, when a Guangdong man traveling with his fiancée and mother through the China-Vietnam border at Mong Cai was brutally beaten by border guards for not paying bribes. His fiancée shared details and photos of his injuries with Chinese media, causing an uproar. Besides bruises on his face, neck and hand, he suffered three broken ribs.
On February 13, a news outlet reported that Vietnamese authorities had refused to acknowledge any abuse in the case, claiming instead that the tourist got his injuries from falling down while being chased by border guards. It appears that they've since changed their stance.
A staff member at the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing had nothing to add to yesterday's statement, which appears to be the latest update on the case. He said that the investigation is ongoing and that any new information will be released through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
[Images via Beijing Times r/t Ren Lili, CCTV]
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