The Chinese government has launched a formal protest against the recent violence in Vietnam against Chinese companies.

At least one Chinese national in Vietnam has been killed and more than 100 others injured amid the anti-China protests which have been taking place in several Vietnamese provinces this week.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.

"The Vietnamese side has an inescapable responsibility for the beating, smashing, looting and burning targeted at China and other countries. We urge the Vietnamese side to immediately take all necessary and effective measures possible to protect the safety of foreign citizens and enterprises in Vietnam, including those from China, and provide a decent working environment for foreign enterprises doing normal business there."

The Chinese government has sent a working group to Vietnam to deal with the aftermath of the violence.

Vietnam's prime minister has been forced to order police to protect foreign companies.

Companies from Singapore and South Korea have also been targeted in the unrest.

More than a thousand people have already been detained in the unrest.

The protests come amid rising tensions over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

The unrest began last week after Vienamese ships attempted to disrupt a Chinese oil drill from entering the waters in around the Xisha Islands.