China and Vietnam announced a deal on Wednesday to increase strategic cooperation, months after President Joe Biden touted the United States’ strengthened “historic” relationship with Vietnam.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with several Vietnamese leaders this week and said Wednesday that China and Vietnam have a “shared future” that will be built on all fronts, according to the South China Morning Post. Biden met with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in September and praised the “historic” creation of a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” between the U.S. and Vietnam. (RELATED: China Likely Damaged Major Underwater Pipeline On Purpose, US Ally Says)
Xi likely wanted assurances from Vietnamese leaders that their relationship with the U.S. wouldn’t supersede China’s new partnership with Vietnam, analysts told The New York Times.
China could seek to exploit…