HUNDREDS of Chinese workers left Vietnam today on chartered ships after deadly unrest broke out last week over a South China Sea sovereignty dispute.

Two ships chartered by Beijing arrived at Vung Ang port in the early morning and left after taking aboard around 900 people each. 

The workers had been bussed to the ships, where riot police were stationed.

Vung Ang port is part of a large partially completed Taiwanese steel mill complex south of Hanoi that was overrun by an anti-China mob last Wednesday and Thursday. 

Two Chinese workers were killed and 140 injured in the attack, which also left parts of the facility on fire. Around 3,000 Chinese workers were employed to build the complex.

China and Vietnam’s overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea have triggered tensions for years.

The latest round erupted on May 1 when Beijing deployed a large oil rig close to the Paracel Islands, which are controlled by China but claimed by Vietnam. 

Hanoi immediately sent ships to confront the rig. They are now locked in a stalemate with Chinese ships protecting the rig, raising fears of possible conflict.

Vietnam has been trying to rally international support for its stance. The United States has labelled China’s move as provocative.

Around 400 other factories around Vietnam were damaged or destroyed in mob violence, mostly in industrial parks close to Ho Chi Minh City. 

Vietnam’s government initially allowed street protests, but it has cracked down since the rioting.