HANOI - BY ASIA INSIDER - Oct 14,2023

All countries acknowledge the need to handle external pressures from other nations, but Vietnam has a unique understanding of this due to its historical experiences with French colonialism, the Second Indochina War with the United States, and Chinese vessels violating its maritime waters. 

Chinese coast guard vessels and fishing trawlers regularly enter Vietnam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) despite strong opposition. While many policy analysts might consider these acts as routine intimidation, the Vietnamese citizens react strongly, as they are well-acquainted with Chinese advances into their sovereign territory.

 

Recently, a Chinese research vessel, Xiang Yang Hong, accompanied by a dozen other ships, ventured into Vietnam's EEZ's oil and gas fields. This action, seen as an attempt to assert control over disputed waters, led to a rare public protest and eventually the ship's departure.

 

According to Van Pham, the head of the nonprofit South China Sea Chronicle Initiative, China's strategy involves exploring the deep South China Sea to gain valuable economic and military intelligence.

Vietnam's revolutionary leader, Ho Chi Minh, once quoted, "Land is the house, and sea is the door. How can we protect the house without guarding the door?" The country's Communist Party (CPV) recognizes the importance of the East Sea (SCS) in its national security and territorial integrity, leading Vietnam to prioritize safeguarding its maritime sovereignty and territorial claims.

 

Despite Vietnam's significant progress in economic, industrial, and technological aspects over the past decades, it faces substantial challenges in preventing Chinese vessels from entering its waters. The vastness of the maritime area, complexity of disputes, and naval capabilities disparity between Vietnam and China contribute to this difficulty.

 

China's actions in the past, including the annexation of the Paracel Islands in 1974 and disregard for certain law of the sea agreements, have fueled tension. Moreover, the hyper-competition over fish resources has led to clashes between Chinese and Vietnamese fishing boats, resulting in the sinking of Vietnamese traditional boats.

 

Vietnam has responded firmly to China's past assaults on its territory, such as during the 1979 offensive into La`o Cai along Vietnam's northern border. The conflict has left a lasting impact on both nations' memories.

In the late 1980s, during Vietnam's economic renovation, China saw opportunities to invest in Vietnam, capitalizing on its emerging market and strategic location in Southeast Asia. 

 

While the economic relationship between the two countries may seem surprising given their troubled history, China became one of Vietnam's major investors, injecting billions into the country's economy. Despite its economic rebound and strengthened self-reliance, Vietnam still carries a significant financial debt to China, though Hanoi prefers not to emphasize this fact.

 

Presently, Vietnam navigates the complex geopolitical and economic landscape by engaging in diplomatic talks with China to resolve maritime disputes. The country also relies on legal mechanisms, like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to support its international claims and challenge China's actions.

 

Additionally, Vietnam fosters regional cooperation with other South China Sea countries facing similar challenges, such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. By working together on joint patrols, information sharing, and coordinated responses, these nations aim to collectively address China's assertive actions.

Amidst the deteriorating relations between the US and China, the Biden administration has been making significant efforts to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian governments, particularly Vietnam. Vietnam's strategic location in a region of vital interest to both the US and China poses a challenge for Hanoi in forming alliances. 

 

With a land border shared with China and ongoing maritime disputes in the South China Sea, Vietnam must navigate a careful path to protect its sovereignty and security.

Despite celebrating the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive partnership with the US this year, Vietnam also marks the 15th anniversary of a comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

Both the US and China are actively engaging Vietnam with diplomatic gestures. While the US has made efforts through Secretary Antony Blinken's visit, constructing a new Embassy in Hanoi, and providing a naval coast guard cutter, it seems to be trailing behind China in terms of influence.

 

Victor Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington, DC, stated that China is more confident about Vietnam's independent stance and its refusal to take actions seen as hostile to Chinese interests.

The balancing act for Vietnam between the US and China is becoming increasingly challenging, as Hanoi hesitates to formally upgrade relations with its former adversary, while actively enhancing its military and trade ties with countries like Australia, India, Japan, and South Korea.

 

Despite a history of conflict and mistrust between China and Vietnam, their economic interdependence and socialist solidarity remain relatively strong.