Will Vietnam’s anti-corruption purge impact its foreign policy amid US-China rivalry?

Name: Vietnamese president Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigns amid major anti-corruption purge
Uploaded: 2023-01-24T10:15:13.000Z
Duration: 1 min 47 s
Description: Vietnamese president Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigns amid major anti-corruption purge

A recent anti-corruption crackdown that led to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s resignation means Vietnam’s new leadership team lacks foreign policy experience

Hanoi faces a dilemma by trying to form a potential ‘strategic’ partnership with the US, while maintaining close ties with China, its largest trade partner

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Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigned as Vietnam’s presdient after rumours he was about to be sacked as part of an anti-corruption drive. Photo: Reuters/File

Maria Siow

Published: 6:15pm, 24 Jan 2023

As Vietnam cleans out its leadership ranks following a corruption crackdown, questions have been raised about the new team’s lack of foreign policy experience, and how it may affect the country’s ability to navigate diplomatic challenges amid the US-China rivalry.

Last week, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigned after rumours he was about to be sacked as part of an anti-corruption drive which led to the dismissal of several ministers.

Vietnamese state media said Phuc “took political responsibility as leader when several officials, including two deputy prime ministers and three ministers committed violations and shortcomings, causing very serious consequences”.

Earlier this month, Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam were removed as deputy prime ministers, over two corruption cases related to the purchase of Covid-19 test kits and repatriation flights for Vietnamese citizens stranded abroad during the pandemic.

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Vietnamese president Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigns amid major anti-corruption purge

Minh was a minister of foreign affairs and Dam was in charge of the country’s handling of the pandemic. Replacing them are Tran Hong Ha and Tran Luu Quang. Neither have foreign policy experience.