Vietnam’s Communist Party chief's visit to White House 'rich in symbolism'
Many have seen the deepening of ties between Hanoi and Washington as a result of their growing concerns over China’s ascendance to power.
The White House will receive a rare guest next month as Vietnam’s Communist party chief embarks on a highly symbolic trip to mark the 20th anniversary of resumption of diplomatic ties between the former foes.
Nguyen Phu Trong, who will be the first ever Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary to visit the United States, is expected to discuss a range of issues from security to economic cooperation with American President Barack Obama as the two countries seek to deepen strategic ties in face of China’s rise. But symbolism aside, analysts are sceptical whether the trip could accomplish anything beyond White House photos.
“The trip is rich in symbolism, not only for relations between Vietnam and the US, but within Vietnam’s communist party as well,” said Jonathan London, a Vietnam expert and assistant professor with City University of Hong Kong.
Trong, who unlike his Chinese counterpart does not hold any government position, is associated with the party’s conservative wing that has traditionally been suspicious of the United States. By sending him to Washington, London said the trip underscored changing reality of Vietnamese politics.
“Even the most conservative, doctrinaire elements of the Communist Party have now come to recognise the practical indispensability of strong Vietnamese-US ties,” he said.
Simmering tensions over the South China Sea territorial disputes have strained ties between the Asian neighbours for years. Their relations nosedived last year after China parked a giant drilling platform in waters claimed by both countries just off Vietnam’s coast. A flurry of efforts have since then been made by both sides to patch things up but distrust lingers.
Many have seen the deepening of ties between Hanoi and Washington as a result of their growing concerns over China’s ascendance to power. The two countries are in particular working to improve military and economic ties. However, these efforts also meet resistance in both countries as some in Hanoi remain wary of Washington’s intensions while Vietnam’s human rights issues still draw criticisms in the US.