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Vietnam Has No 'Pawn' Intentions in Great Power Chess Match: Expert

© AP Photo / Minh HoangVietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, second right, speaks to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Central Office of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023.
Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, second right, speaks to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Central Office of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. - Sputnik India, 1920, 19.12.2023
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India, China and the US are looking to deepen and broaden their partnerships with Vietnam. Sputnik India spoke to an expert to find out where Vietnam is leaning.
The fourth Vietnam-India Joint Peacekeeping Exercise, known as VINBAX 2023, is being held in Hanoi from December 11 to 21, and has contributed to strengthening the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership by promoting mutually beneficial defence cooperation and friendship.
The field exercise, which includes military medical and engineering personnel, is designed to improve the ability of troops to coordinate in the conduct of UN peacekeeping missions.
Following US President Joe Biden's visit to the Vietnamese capital in September, China and Vietnam are expected to agree on improved rail links and other infrastructure, possibly including digital projects, officials share.

Global Powers Compete for Influence in Vietnam

"Of course, historical baggage cannot be erased from the memory of any nation, and Vietnam continues to harbor some degree of distrust or apprehension toward both the US and China," explains Indian professor Reena Marwah, a Vietnam expert at the University of Delhi.
Speaking of the 1979 war with China, Marwah pointed out, “Similar to Russia, China undoubtedly does not want Vietnam to become overly dependent on the US, in light of the fact that China fought a war with Vietnam in response to the Soviet Union and Vietnam having just signed a 25-year mutual defence treaty in November 1978”.
“Nevertheless, Vietnam intends to benefit from the opportunities presented by India, China and the US and would remain neutral. Vietnam most certainly has no intention to be a ‘pawn’ in the great power rivalry”, said the professor.

India - Favoured Destination for Vietnamese: Expert

Discussing Vietnam's geographical influence, the professor stressed that "Vietnam is a very important nation in Southeast Asia. But because of its long coastline, it is also open to encroachment. China's nine-dash line - renamed the ten-dash line - continues to send mixed messages to all its neighbours.
“Prior to 2012, China's relations with Southeast Asia had improved since China assisted the region during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and was a development partner for many of the Southeast Asia nations. However, in the last ten years—2012–2023—the situation has rapidly shifted. Considering that, for Vietnam, India is also a favoured destination in terms of the China plus one strategy”, Marwah shared.

At the same time, Marwah emphasised that “Vietnam and Russia have had a long-standing and amicable relationship. Vietnam is Russia's largest military ally, having bought the majority of its armaments.’

India-Vietnam: 51 Years of Diplomatic Ties

"India wants to extend the trilateral highway linking Thailand, Myanmar and India to Vietnam and Laos. Meanwhile, India is also deploying its warships and establishing friendly relations with Vietnam and the Philippines, China's maritime neighbours in the South China Sea, in the areas of naval modernisation and coastguard cooperation," the professor said.

As India celebrates 51 years of diplomatic relations with Vietnam, the professor emphasised that the bilateral relationship between the two countries goes beyond Mekong-Ganga and India-ASEAN cooperation, maritime domain awareness and military exercises to include cultural cooperation and education. Vietnam is therefore seen as a significant partner nation for India, both in terms of strategic leverage and economic opportunity.
Indian Army officials perform during the final rehearsal of Army Tattoo to celebrate the Indian Army Vijay Diwas at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) in Kolkata on December 14, 2022.  - Sputnik India, 1920, 11.12.2023
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