Xi Jinping Visits Vietnam Amid Complex Relations: A Balancing Act for Hanoi
When Chinese leader Xi Jinping meets Vietnam’s leader, Nguyen Phu Trong, expect warm rhetoric about their historic friendship. Vietnam might announce joining Xi’s “Community of Common Destiny,” seen as a challenge to the US-led global order.
China offers advanced railway tech for Vietnam’s infrastructure, emphasizing economic ties. Yet, underlying tensions, like the South China Sea dispute and historical conflicts, remain unspoken.
Public sentiment in Vietnam can be anti-Chinese, rooted in nationalism and historical fears. While both nations avoid provocations, emotions over territorial claims persist.
Vietnam, cautious of Chinese investments under Belt and Road, balances economic ties with the need to manage public resentment. Despite ideological similarities, there’s a strategic difference; China seeks dominance, while Vietnam employs “bamboo diplomacy” to balance relations with major powers.
Vietnam’s recent upgrade in ties with the US is seen as a hedge against China’s influence. China remains a crucial economic partner, but the relationship is sensitive to events like South China Sea tensions. For Vietnam’s leaders, China is a priority, but it’s a delicate balance in a region where geopolitical dynamics are ever-evolving. (Source : BBC)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67678890