The recent attack and robbery of an Apia supermarket has struck fear amongst the Chinese business community in Samoa.

The Chinese operators of the One-on-One supermarket in Vailoa were attacked in the early hours of the morning last Thursday and $60,000 cash stolen. 

Savalalo Coin Save manager, Zhans Honge condemned the attack and described it as “heartless”, saying Chinese firms always offer employment opportunities to locals and it is sad seeing them being targeted. 

“We provide most of the job seeking Samoans with job opportunities and it’s sad to know that they’re mostly after the Chinese people and it’s becoming scary especially with their machetes and weapons,” she said.

Mrs. Honge said Samoans who are getting into crime should look for a job instead. 

“Why don’t they just go and look for jobs instead of stealing and attacking money especially that of the Chinese?”

She also expressed concern at the failure of local authorities to find the perpetrators behind recent attacks targeting Chinese-owned businesses. 

CCTV footage of the attack and robbery at the One-on-One supermarket in Vailoa last Thursday morning was uploaded on social media and went viral.

It triggered comments from locals, most of them condemning the criminal acts, while a few questioned increasing Chinese ownership of local businesses. 

Cao Xiuxia, a Chinese woman who owns the Kaxia Fast Food Restaurant in Apia, saw the CCTV footage and expressed fear according to husband Karl Formanele.

“My wife was so scared when she it last night (last Thursday night) and I feel so sorry for her, because despite the attacks that scares her to death, she still wants to stay here in Samoa and run our business,” he said. The couple recently opened a new restaurant at Savalalo.

Last year the operator of the Kavana Avealalo store at Falelauniu, “Ming”, was attacked by a Samoan male who then stole cash from the store and fled. Following the events of last Thursday, the family opted to relocate to their family residence in Faleata in fear of their lives.  

Zammey Ah-Ching, a Samoan woman who is married to a Chinese man, told this newspaper that their family made the abrupt move when they heard about the attack.

“Our shops at Faleasiu and Sinamoga were locked immediately as soon as our family heard of the attacks on another Chinese couple,” she said.