US President Joe Biden arrives in Vietnam on Sunday (Sep 10) to deepen cooperation between the two nations, in the face of China’s growing ambitions in the region.
Biden, who is flying from the G20 summit in New Delhi, will meet the leader of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, on Sunday to sign off on a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, Hanoi’s highest level of diplomatic ties.
The underlying goal of the short visit will be much the same as Biden’s time at the G20 gathering – to shore up support against China’s increasing influence.
For Vietnam, the upgrading of diplomatic ties is significant. It only has top-level ties with Russia, India, South Korea and China.
As an American, I can’t think of a better way to put our troubled past with Vietnam behind us, then to open up lucrative business relations with them, especially if it helps to position them strongly against Chinese aggression.
The Vietnamese people did a while ago, and so did a number of American soldiers who actually fought in the war. Most of the folks still trying to see a conflict are people influenced by propaganda war movies and have never been to Vietnam where people were open to people from all over the world and that includes Americans, and where American ex-soldiers returned to heal their souls and to help to make good on what they did.
E.g. American veterans from the war raised money when the American government still pretended they did nothing wrong in the war and they help in cleaning up e.g. minefields the Americans left behind and that endanger especially children.
And also, the US government already reconciled with Vietnam and it actively helping in matters of China. Japan also have their eyes on it.
While that’s all good news to hear, furthering positive relations with Vietnam is still a good thing. Thanks for the info!