China is facing its worst wave of labour unrest since a series of wildcat strikes at Japanese-owned car plants last year, as declining export orders lead factories to reduce worker pay.

More than 10,000 workers have gone on strike over the past week.

The latest protests broke out on Tuesday at a Taiwanese computer factory in Shenzhen.

Fears about the Chinese economy grew after a manufacturing index compiled by HSBC fell to levels not seen since at least March 2009.