Link to the article – https://english.news.cn/20231214/3d2ec8ddeb264b69909730290db6fdc7/c.html
Summary – China and Vietnam are solidifying their relationship that has already been friendly for many years. Xi Jinping took his first trip to Vietnam in 6 years to visit and make an agreement that is the first of its kind in the past 10 years, one with strategic significance. The countries plan to leverage shared opportunities and pursue mutual development across political, economic, trade, security, and people-to-people exchanges. Xi Jinping says that the developmental achievements of the two countries are the result of hard work and an open and inclusive world, especially a peaceful Asia-Pacific. China has also committed itself to working with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Central Asian, African, Arab, and Latin American and Caribbean states to build a closer community with a shared future throughout multiple states.
Analysis – First the effort to connect China and Vietnam is a demonstration of China ensuring its security and development. Not only are they working together with Vietnam on common or industrial things, this agreement is creating a close ally that will support them in whatever ventures are to come. Whether it be war or diplomatic relations, they have a close partner. The more interesting part of this to me is that China seems to be “building a community with a shared future” with just about everyone. Their entire area is now interwoven and China’s surrounding countries are, for the most part, allies with a shared future. I see this as an effort by China to not only gain power in a diplomatic sense, but also as a bit of a grasp at spreading influence. China is a recently developed power in the world and this effort shows how they have developed. They are smart and know who to get on their side, and how.
Connection to class – This related closely to the big topic we have been talking about in class, international security. China expanding its reach and becoming closer with countries around the world is bolstering the country’s security. They are securing their national security, and the national security of the countries they are expanding relations with. The protection they will provide for Vietnam and the many other countries will be reciprocated by those countries, so they will all work together to protect one another because it is in their national interest to support a close ally.