Jakarta, IO – The United States has been intensifying its Indo-Pacific Strategy, with a particular focus on Vietnam. However, despite US attempts to align Hanoi against Beijing and encircle China militarily, Vietnam is unlikely to take the bait.
The recent visit of the USS Ronald Reagan, a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, to Da Nang was intended to send a strong signal to China. By showcasing a robust military presence in the South China Sea and strengthening military ties with Vietnam, the US aims to assert its influence in the region. This visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the “comprehensive partnership” between the US and Vietnam, highlighting Washington’s eagerness to enhance bilateral relations.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that the Biden administration’s interest in cultivating friendly relations with Hanoi may be primarily motivated by Vietnam’s role as a counterbalance to China. The US leverages China-related issues as bargaining chips to foster cooperation with Vietnam. Consequently, the more strained the relationship between Vietnam and China becomes, the more incentives the US offers to Vietnam.
Despite recent progress in US-Vietnam relations, significant underlying conflicts and political distrust persist. Historical issues related to the Vietnam War, as well as differences in ideological values and human rights concerns, impede closer cooperation between the two countries. Vietnam’s perception of the US will ultimately determine the extent to which Hanoi is willing to collaborate with Washington. However, Vietnam remains cautious, in response to the US eternal pursuit of global hegemony and its tendency to suppress the interests of other nations, influencing Vietnam to avoid any fatal alliance.
Coinciding with the US aircraft carrier’s visit to Da Nang, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh embarked on an official visit to China—the first by a Vietnamese PM in seven years. This visit underscores Vietnam’s foreign policy of maintaining independence, self-reliance and a diversified approach to external relations. It highlights the importance Vietnam attaches to its ties with China, and signals its commitment to a balanced diplomacy in its relations with both China and the US.
Vietnam’s caution reflects its reluctance to fully align with the US, as that would not be in its interest, appearing to take sides in the escalated US-China rivalry. Given their close geopolitical proximity and intertwined trade and economic relations, Vietnam carefully weighs the implications of cooperating with the US, and thus appearing to stand against China. Moreover, Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, harbor concerns about the increasing interference in regional affairs by the United States of America and the potential for escalated conflicts in the region.
From an international relations perspective, the analysis suggests that the United States faces considerable obstacles in its attempts to align Vietnam against China and strengthen bilateral ties. Vietnam’s cautious approach and reluctance to fully align with the US can be attributed to several factors.