In a statement on Wednesday, China has appealed to its firms to show respect to Indian laws and customs following the flag controversy at Oppo’s office in India.
Oppo, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, was under attack as a Chinese employee in the company’s office in Noida has been reported to have allegedly disrespected the Indian flag. A surveillance video has captured the Chinese tearing and throwing the Indian tricolors into a dustbin.
The Chinese government has also requested India to defend the rights of Chinese nationals and Chinese firms while the incident is under investigation.
"We have seen the report. As far as we know, the company is in touch with the local police. We hope this issue can be resolved properly," said Lu Kang, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
"The Chinese government always asks its Chinese enterprises and staff overseas to abide by local laws and regulations and to respect local practices and customs," Lu said.
"We also hope the legitimate rights of the Chinese enterprises and staff will be strictly safeguarded under regulations of law," the spokesman added.
Oppo, a tech firm based in Guangdong, has become a major smartphone brand in India together with other Chinese trademarks such as Xiaomi, Vivo and Huawei. The said brands are currently in the top five smartphone brands in the Indian market.
According to reports, a case has been filed against the Chinese national, a production manager in Oppo’s Indian office, for alleged tearing and placing the Indian flag in a dustbin. The company has not been available for a comment.
A CCTV footage from the company premises would be investigated to establish facts of the case, according to Indian authorities.
Indians have protested in front of Oppo’s Noida office to condemn the incident, demanding Chinese nationals and companies to respect their laws and customs.