Papua New Guinea's acting Prime Minister Puka Temu has apologised for a "handful of hooligans and opportunists" attacking and looting Asian businesses across the country.
Temu said in a statement on Wednesday that police would be out in full force to deal with troublemakers.
"I would also like to apologise to the business entities that were victimised and the inconvenience caused to the public as a result of these activities," he said.
"And I assure them that the law will come down hard on the perpetrators," he said.
"While our Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is overseas trying to lure investors to our country, here we have a handful of hooligans and opportunists doing the exact opposite.
"This government condemns in the strongest terms possible the recent looting and targeting of Asian-owned businesses," he said.
Local media reports say PNG police have shot four looters in the Highlands region while in Lae, PNG's second biggest city, two looters were killed.
The trouble started in the capital Port Moresby last Wednesday when an anti-Chinese protest ended in violence and looting.
In the same week, PNG workers clashed with management at the Chinese-run Ramu nickel mine in Madang Province, on the northeast coast, after a worker was injured by a tractor.
Opposition Leader Mekere Morauta said in an earlier statement: "There is a feeling of anxiety and frustration, a feeling of being left out and being ignored by a government working in total isolation of its people".
Many in PNG feel an influx of 'new Chinese' has squeezed them out of small-scale business.
Others complain about working for ruthless Chinese bosses who impose tough conditions.
Allegations of a rise in Chinese organised crime and corruption involving PNG officials have also added to 'grassroots' community anger.
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