Is Washington turning Vietnam against China by fanning the flames of their territorial dispute in the South China Sea? In unusually blunt language, this editorial from China’s state-run Huanqiu threatens Hanoi over helping America reinforce it influence in Asia, warning that Hanoi ‘must understand in no uncertain terms that the pressure Washington puts on China will fall on the head of Vietnam.’
The Huanqiu editorial says in small part:
The penetration of Western values is accelerating and will profoundly affect Vietnam’s emerging political landscape. Up to now, Vietnam has had little in the way of anti-government protests. The few that have occurred have most often been directed at China’s government rather than Vietnam’s. But that does not mean that the target of such demonstrations will not suddenly change.
On the one hand, nationalist sentiment unifies Vietnamese society. On the other, it poisons political ties with China. Thanks to the growing nationalist mood, Vietnam is being pushed into the arms of America, which, while depicting itself as “protector” of Vietnam, also likes to politically reprimand Vietnam [for human rights abuses].
The only viable path for Vietnam is to coordinate with China to limit America’s strategic return to Asia. The territorial disputes between our two countries should not lead to outright hostility. Rather than being part of America’s strategy to contain China, Vietnam should become an Asian bulwark against U.S. interference in Asia.
Over the past two years, Hanoi, “kidnapped” by the territorial issue, has been a key party in facilitating America’s return to Asia. Hanoi must understand in no uncertain terms that the pressure Washington puts on China will fall on the head of Vietnam. If East Asia is overwhelmed by political turmoil, Vietnam will very likely be among its first victims.
READ ON AT IN ENGLISH OR CHINESE WORLDMEETS.US, your most trusted translator and aggregator of foreign news and views about our nation.
Founder and Managing Editor of Worldmeets.US