Ties between China and Vietnam appear to be improving across every front. Vietnam is selling more to China, while China is investing more in its southern neighbor. Even on thorny territorial issues in the South China Sea, the two sides said they’re talking through their differences.
And last month, Vietnamese leader To Lam traveled to China in his capacity as both General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the country, a model many say was inspired by the Chinese political structure.
All of this has prompted discussion among some Vietnamese analysts that Hanoi is swinging in Beijing’s direction.
But Khang Vu, a visiting scholar in Vietnamese political science at Boston College, strongly disagrees. Khang joins Eric to discuss why Hanoi’s longstanding commitment to non-alignment among the major powers remains the bedrock of Vietnamese foreign policy.
Show Notes:
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Why Vietnam Is Swinging in China’s Direction by Nguyen Khac Giang
The Diplomat: The Myth of Vietnam’s Tilt Toward China by Khang Vu
The Diplomat: Interpreting the Future of Vietnam-China Relations Through the 2026 Joint Statement by Hai Hong Nguyen and Vu Quy Son
📌 Topics Covered in this Episode
Vietnam–China relations: perception vs. reality
The “Four No’s” and non-aligned foreign policy
Tho Lam’s Beijing visit and key takeaways
South China Sea tensions and regional dynamics
Tech, trade, and Huawei: strategic hedging
Navigating U.S.–China rivalry and global pressure
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