Xi Jinping's Visit to Vietnam Aims to Heal a Complicated Affair

Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Vietnam is expected to be filled with compliments and pledges of friendship between the two communist-run nations. Vietnam is likely to announce its participation in China's "Community of Common Destiny," which is viewed as a challenge to the US-led global order. This move would place China one step ahead of the US in their competition for Vietnam's loyalty. During the visit, China will offer its advanced railway technology to help Vietnam upgrade its transportation infrastructure, including a rail link to Haiphong that passes through an area rich in rare earth deposits. Despite the positive rhetoric, topics such as the territorial dispute in the South China Sea and historical grievances between the two countries will not be openly discussed. Vietnamese public sentiment towards China can be strongly anti-Chinese, rooted in nationalism and fear of the neighboring country. While recent protests and conflicts have been limited, these issues still simmer beneath the surface. China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and biggest foreign direct investor, creating an economic footprint that Vietnamese leaders are cautious about challenging. Although there is an ideological bond between the two countries' leadership, there remain fundamental differences in their strategic outlooks. Vietnam seeks to balance its relations between the US and China, as well as maintain historical ties with Russia. Overall, China is aware that Vietnam's warming relations with the US serve as a hedge against its own influence in the region, making the relationship between the two countries contingent on external events.