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Vietnam Muddles China’s South China Sea Challenge | The Diplomat
While Dung’s faction has reached to Washington, a rival conservative faction led by President Truong Tan Sang and Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is viewed as ideologically tied to China. In April, Trong and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed at a meeting in Beijing to control their maritime disputes, bolster strategic ties and consider joint development initiatives in the South China Sea. Sang sounded similarly conciliatory notes on the maritime disputes after meeting Xi on the sidelines of last November’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum hosted by Beijing.
Sang and Trong were seen as instrumental in smoothing relations with Beijing after deadly anti-China riots in May 2014 drove hundreds of Chinese nationals out of Vietnam. Dung, on the other hand, sounded strong nationalistic notes in the run-up to the riots, which were sparked by China’s placement of an oil exploration rig in waters claimed by Vietnam. Analysts and diplomats still wonder whether the riots, which destroyed several foreign-owned factories, including 14 owned by mainland Chinese investors, erupted organically or had hidden official backing.
If Dung’s faction secures the Party’s top posts, including prime minister, president, National Assembly chair and general secretary, at next year’s National Congress, some analysts believe a more unified leadership would pursue even stronger strategic ties to the U.S. and a bolder stance against China. Should the China-leaning faction prevail, the same analysts expect a slowdown or rollback of engagement with the U.S. and more conciliation towards China. Until the leadership transition is decided, factional infighting and policy indecision will hamstring Vietnam’s ability to counter quickly and coherently China’s game-changing maneuvers in the South China Sea.
Another Viet civil war will knock Viet back decades again. China should offer covert support to destabilize, partition and incapacitate Viet.
While Dung’s faction has reached to Washington, a rival conservative faction led by President Truong Tan Sang and Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is viewed as ideologically tied to China. In April, Trong and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed at a meeting in Beijing to control their maritime disputes, bolster strategic ties and consider joint development initiatives in the South China Sea. Sang sounded similarly conciliatory notes on the maritime disputes after meeting Xi on the sidelines of last November’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum hosted by Beijing.
Sang and Trong were seen as instrumental in smoothing relations with Beijing after deadly anti-China riots in May 2014 drove hundreds of Chinese nationals out of Vietnam. Dung, on the other hand, sounded strong nationalistic notes in the run-up to the riots, which were sparked by China’s placement of an oil exploration rig in waters claimed by Vietnam. Analysts and diplomats still wonder whether the riots, which destroyed several foreign-owned factories, including 14 owned by mainland Chinese investors, erupted organically or had hidden official backing.
If Dung’s faction secures the Party’s top posts, including prime minister, president, National Assembly chair and general secretary, at next year’s National Congress, some analysts believe a more unified leadership would pursue even stronger strategic ties to the U.S. and a bolder stance against China. Should the China-leaning faction prevail, the same analysts expect a slowdown or rollback of engagement with the U.S. and more conciliation towards China. Until the leadership transition is decided, factional infighting and policy indecision will hamstring Vietnam’s ability to counter quickly and coherently China’s game-changing maneuvers in the South China Sea.
Another Viet civil war will knock Viet back decades again. China should offer covert support to destabilize, partition and incapacitate Viet.