Advertisement
US-China relations
OpinionComment
Richard Heydarian
Richard Heydarian

Opinion | Why India and Vietnam won’t be joining US’ China containment

  • Aside from scepticism at Biden’s stab at realpolitik after criticising authoritarian regimes, both Vietnam and India prefer a world dominated by neither the US nor China
  • As developing nations, they are interested in Western technology and investment but neither wishes to, nor can afford to, confront China

Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
16
Illustration: Craig Stephens
Richard Heydarian
“I don’t want to contain China,” declared US President Joe Biden during his historic visit to Vietnam this month. “We’re not trying to hurt China,” he insisted, underscoring his administration’s commitment to “getting the relationship right” rather than pursuing a containment strategy.
Advertisement
Buoyed by booming economic ties, Biden upgraded US relations with Vietnam to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, paving the way for deeper defence and security cooperation. Just days earlier, he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, and also discussed strategic cooperation.
Crucially, he announced at the Group of 20 meeting a new transcontinental infrastructure initiative to enhance connectivity among India and US allies in the Middle East and Europe.

By all indications, Biden’s Asia visit was primarily about China, with a focus on corralling Asia’s rising powers against it. But neither India nor Vietnam is interested in aligning with the US, nor can they afford to confront China.

If anything, the non-aligned nations would rather keep relations with an ascendant Beijing on an even keel. Crucially, both India and Vietnam prefer a truly multipolar world, dominated by neither the US nor China.

Advertisement
Early in his presidency, Biden sought to distinguish himself from his notoriously transactional predecessor, Donald Trump, by underscoring how the promotion of democracy would be a tenet of his foreign policy. Accordingly, he launched the Summit for Democracy, gathering leaders across the democratic world in Washington.
Advertisement