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What Vietnam’s leadership change could mean for Beijing, and the South China Sea dispute
- After the death of Nguyen Phu Trong, Hanoi is expected to continue his pragmatic policy of ‘bamboo diplomacy’, with China ties to remain ‘stable’
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China’s ties with Vietnam are expected to remain largely stable, observers say, even as uncertainty looms in Hanoi following the death of long-serving leader Nguyen Phu Trong.
Trong, 80, who died last week after a long unspecified illness, has left a mixed political and economic legacy after overseeing Vietnam’s rapid economic growth and a “blazing furnace” crackdown on corruption to consolidate the Communist Party’s power.
But observers were generally positive about Hanoi’s pragmatic “bamboo diplomacy” under Trong’s watch – a delicate balancing act between China and the United States amid a deepening rift with its northern neighbour in the South China Sea.
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Paying tribute in a rare visit to Vietnam’s embassy in Beijing on Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke of their “deep camaraderie” and praised Trong’s “outstanding contribution” to ties between the two countries and their ruling parties.
The Communist Party of China also sent a condolence message hours after Trong’s death was announced, calling him “a good comrade, a good brother and a good friend”. China’s No 4 official, Wang Huning, will lead a delegation to Vietnam to attend Nguyen’s state funeral on Friday.
Hanoi emphasised the importance of its relations with Beijing, with its ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai pledging to “adhere to the strategic choice and top priority of developing friendly cooperation with China”, according to official news agency Xinhua.
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