Why Vietnam is Not “In Play” in the U.S.-China Rivalry

There was a lot of speculation in the U.S. last year that an upgrade of diplomatic ties with Vietnam would prompt Hanoi to be more aligned with Washington in its rivalry with China.

While Vietnam did embark on a flurry of diplomatic upgrades with China’s rivals in Japan, South Korea, and the United States, among others, China nonetheless remains the Southeast Asian country’s primary foreign policy priority.

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by Eric Olander

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