US President Joe Biden is set to embark on a significant diplomatic mission to Vietnam, aiming to fortify the collaboration between the two nations, particularly in light of mounting apprehensions regarding China’s burgeoning sway in the region, as reported by AFP.
Following his departure from the G20 summit in New Delhi, President Biden’s itinerary includes a crucial meeting with Nguyen Phu Trong, the leader of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party. During this historic visit, the leaders are poised to formalize a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” signifying the zenith of diplomatic relations between Hanoi and Washington.
The overarching objective of this brief sojourn closely mirrors Biden’s priorities at the G20 summit – to consolidate support in the face of China’s escalating dominance.
For Vietnam, this elevation of diplomatic ties carries immense significance. Vietnam only maintains top-tier relations with a select few nations, including Russia, India, South Korea, and China. While being careful to appear impartial in the ongoing US-China rivalry, Vietnam shares concerns with the United States regarding its neighbor’s growing assertiveness in the contested South China Sea, as noted by AFP.
Furthermore, the United States and Vietnam, a pivotal manufacturing hub, have cultivated increasingly intertwined trade relations. Washington perceives Hanoi as a crucial partner in diversifying its supply chain sources, especially after recent supply chain disruptions that reverberated through the global economy.
The itinerary for President Biden’s visit to Hanoi features a welcome ceremony, addresses by both leaders, and a press conference hosted by the US President. During his time in Vietnam, President Biden will also meet with President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
As reported by AFP, the streets around Hanoi’s central Hoan Kiem Lake were festooned with American and Vietnamese flags, reflecting the anticipation surrounding the visit. Souvenir shops in the city’s old quarter were seen selling T-shirts adorned with President Biden’s visage, underlining the sentiment that the United States is a valued friend to Vietnam.
“I think the US is a good friend to Vietnam,” remarked Truong Thanh Duc, the 61-year-old owner of one such shop. “With this visit of President Joe Biden, I think he will bring more business contracts and jobs to Vietnamese people.”
However, President Biden’s visit to Vietnam will necessitate a delicate balance between strategic interests and the defense of human rights. Vietnam has faced criticism for its dire human rights record, with government critics encountering intimidation, harassment, and imprisonment following unfair trials. Reports of police torture to extract confessions further mar the human rights landscape, according to Human Rights Watch.
While President Biden has been vocal about China’s human rights record, his stance on Vietnam’s human rights situation has remained relatively muted, raising concerns among campaigners. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated before the trip that President Biden would raise issues related to “freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and other basic human rights.”
This visit transpires shortly after a US government commission on religious freedom strongly criticized Vietnam for “egregious, ongoing, and systematic violations.”
On a positive note, Vietnam has a history of releasing political prisoners ahead of US presidential visits. In a recent development, Nguyen Bac Truyen, a legal expert and advocate for religious freedom who had been sentenced to 11 years in prison for subversion in 2018, announced on Facebook that he had been released and allowed to travel to Germany with his wife.
President Biden’s visit to Hanoi necessitates an early departure from the G20 summit, where leaders grappled with divisions on the war in Ukraine and the imperative to combat climate change. Notably, the summit’s joint declaration avoided direct criticism of Moscow and refrained from concrete pledges to phase out polluting fossil fuels.
The President’s Vietnam excursion also encompasses a poignant visit to the memorial honoring his friend John McCain, the former US senator who was shot down and held captive during the Vietnam War. McCain’s efforts in later years played a pivotal role in rejuvenating ties between the United States and Vietnam.
Agencies
