LAOS: Anti China sentiments have sparked against a Shanghai-based company Wang Feng Shanghai Real Estate Co. over building a 100-meter statue of Buddha costing USD 5 billion at That Laug Marsh close to the SEZ on the bank of river Mekong in Vientiane.

People expressed anger on social media accusing the company of stepping on Laotian Buddhist sentiments by designing it in a Mahayana fashion contrary to the Theravada school of Buddhism followed in Laos which depicts Buddha sitting cross-legged.

The statue will be the tallest structure in the low-rise building area and its location is close to Phathut Luang, a gold-plated Buddhist stupa standing as a symbol of Laotian sovereignty.

In 2020, a Chinese company was forced to take down red lanterns it hung on utility poles that it had built a Vientiane following angry protests on social media.

In another such incident, a Chinese company running the Lao Kalem gold mining project in Laos on a 15-year concession since 2020 is releasing hazardous waste into rivers in Sekong Province (South Laos) killing fish and polluting water used by locals.

Villagers have demanded the project developer and authority to return the river back to its normal condition.

Following protests and official action, the company is completing a wastewater project including a new reservoir and dumpsite, the company is also bringing drinking water to the village through pipes.