Tell me another country that is as diplomatically astute as Vietnam right now.
It forms a strategic defense tie with Israel, buys lots of Israeli weapons, yet lends sympathy and support to the cause of the Palestinians.
It’s the only country in Southeast Asia that stands in opposition to Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea, frequently denounces Chinese and Taiwanese military drills in the sea as “illegal activities”. This is from a Western newspaper (the New York times) btw. Do you see the razor thin S-shaped strip of land to the south of China?
Yet China is its biggest trading partner and one of its comprehensive strategic partners. Economic, political and cultural exchange between the two countries continue to flourish. No other people understand the Chinese as much as the Vietnamese. We share a similar culture and we have been dealing with them for thousands of years.
It manages to buy tons of weapons from Russia, supports the lift of US sanction against Cuba, maintains close ties with Cuba and North Korea, sends agricultural engineers to Venezuela to teach them how to cultivate rice, yet the US ambassador to Vietnam just said: “I believe, to the USA, Vietnam is one of our most important partners, not on regional but global level”. Bilateral relations between the US and Vietnam are at an all-time high.
It has also cooperated with India on numerous issues. In fact, India is one of Vietnam’s comprehensive strategic partners as well as China.
Although China is its biggest trading partner, Japan, Korea and Singapore are its biggest investors. China is way down the list. So to anyone who says Vietnam is an economic lackey to China, let me have a good laugh at you.
Some novices think it’s in Vietnam’s best interest to form an alliance with the US at the expense of China. No you are stupid and naive. If you work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs I’m sure this country will soon be fucked up. In all of Vietnamese history, our ancestors DID NOT survive by directly confronting China. They were hard and soft at the right time, gave concessions in some cases while stood firm and adamant in opposition in the others.
Vietnam was not always that careful in the 20th century. That’s why it became the battlefield between global powers. And that’s why the border war in 1979 happened. Ever heard of this Vietnamese phrase: “Nước xa không cứu được lửa gần” (Faraway water can not put out a nearby fire)? Now we know better. Thank you but we know what to do.
Tell me, how can Vietnam afford to form any alliance with either China or America right now?
China is its biggest import partner and America is its biggest export destination.
People in the Sino-Vietnamese border are a very pro-China bunch. My friends in Mong Cai city, bordering Dongxing, Guangxi told me trading with China helps them immensely with their livelihood. What logic are the “boycott China” bunch exactly using?
The Vietnamese government is doing a good job of weathering contradicting geopolitical interests of global powers in the region. Vietnam is benefiting from its vulnerable, but strategic geopolitical position by playing them off and acting in the “intermediary” role.
So NO. Any proposal to side with either of these two giants and alienate the other is stupid, short-sighted and reckless. Especially some rabidly anti-Chinese anti-communist Vietnamese Americans should know better. Talk all you want, but the fact remains that your voice carries no weight.