Xi’s Diplomatic Gambit: China’s President Visits Vietnam to Counter U.S. Influence

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam to rethink and deepen bilateral relations amid rising U.S.-China tensions.

China’s Xi visits Vietnam in bid to counter US (Photo: Google)

 Xi Jinping’s Call for a “New Stage” in China-Vietnam Relations

Xi, who last visited Vietnam six years ago, called for a “new stage” in relations to resist U.S. dominance.

Xi’s visit is geopolitical, as Vietnam, a Southeast Asian power, negotiates diplomatic relations with China and the U.S. Vietnam maintains deep commercial connections with China despite President Joe Biden’s September visit, which improved diplomatic ties. The coming of Xi triggered debates on “overall, strategic, and directional issues” in China-Vietnam ties and global challenges.

Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy” balances the U.S. containment of China with its economic dependency on Beijing. China and Vietnam have a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” Vietnam’s highest diplomatic status, but Xi’s visit is expected to strengthen it.

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Key Agendas and South China Sea Tensions

China’s foreign ministry discussed “politics, security, practical cooperation, public opinion, multilateral issues, and maritime issues.” Xi’s “Community of Common Destiny” may emphasize economic, security, and political cooperation.

Xi’s visit is complicated by South China Sea tensions, notably between China and the Philippines. Vietnam and other states dispute China’s sweeping regional claims. Xi will meet with Vietnamese authorities, lay a wreath at Ho Chi Minh’s tomb, and discuss rare earth minerals essential to the high-tech industry.

As Xi seeks to strengthen ties with Vietnam, the world monitors how this crucial visit will affect Southeast Asia’s fragile balance, reflecting China’s power dynamics.

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