The US’ decision to upgrade ties with Vietnam is not a Cold War move aimed against China, a US National Security Council official said on Wednesday.
Not a Cold War Move
“The idea that this is in any way any kind of Cold War move, and also the idea that this diplomatic opening is any kind of effort to choose between Vietnam and China, because I don’t think it is either one of those things,” Mira Rapp-Hooper, National Security Council Director for the Indo-Pacific, said during an online news briefing.
She added that the two countries’ upgraded partnership is a “dynamic, open, inclusive partnership that is intended to support Vietnam and its technological, economic, and development aspirations.” “This relationship isn’t about anyone else,” she said.
“It’s about our two countries and the intrinsic value this relationship has in terms of our shared prosperity, our shared security, our shared interests in a free and open Indo-Pacific, in a free and open South China Sea,” she stated.
Chinese Response
In light of the developments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters on Monday that “the development of bilateral relations should not target any third party or harm regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.”
Following 50 years of progress in the relationship between our nations, from conflict to normalization, I am proud to have strengthened ties with Vietnam – a critical Indo-Pacific partner – even further.
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 12, 2023
The United States is a Pacific nation, and we are not going anywhere. pic.twitter.com/J4EnuuR00V
She also urged the US “to respect regional countries’ shared aspiration for stability, cooperation and development, abide by basic norms governing international relations, and discard the hegemonic and Cold War mentality when dealing with relations with Asian countries.”
In addition, the spokesperson stated that Vietnam has “stressed on multiple occasions” that its growing comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China “is its diplomatic priority and a top priority in the country’s foreign affairs.”
US-Vietnam Upgrade Ties
The latest exchange between the two superpowers comes after US President Joe Biden and Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong elevated bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership over the weekend.
Notably, their new relationship also includes a new semiconductor partnership, which will help support resilient semiconductor supply chains for US Industry.
The White House called the visit “historic.”