Agreed. This history of animosity between Vietnam and China goes back thousands of years. It was only temporarily put on hold during the French & American-phase of the Vietnam War. Vietnam cannot be viewed as a 'communist' brother wrt to its relations to China. Vietnam's behavior have to be viewed through the lens of other East Asian 'non-friendlies' like South Korea.
Vietnam essentially behaves like the other East Asian countries and 'rebel provinces' around China (maybe except North Korea, but I guess NK will behave the same if they are no longer isolated). Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, HK and Taiwan all have origins and cutural links that goes back to ancient China. But because of the need to assert their identity away from China, they used nationalism and Sinophobia to achieve it. For over a century, China was no longer the most important and influential country in East Asia. Now that China is coming back, there is a fear among them that China will come back and dominate East Asia.
Vietnam will not become China's friend anytime soon. Vietnam behaves very Machiavellian-like in geopolitics. It'll use even America, the country that butchered Vietnam like no other, to achieve its goals against China. That's why I don't believe in the so called 'communist brothers'. Geopolitics always comes ahead of ideologies. History has always proved that correct.
Vietnam is a country that China cannot trust. Though Vietnam knows how to manage China well. It uses the Japan playbook recently. Vietnam avoids using antagonistic rethoric against China so that China may not target Vietnam for any trade punishment. And the gravy train of trade from China continues to grow its economy. But Vietnam is quietly doing things that are hostile against China; like Japan. It would be interesting to see what Vietnam would do if and when it obtains the economic power of South Korea. It may be more assertive, but I doubt war could happen. China is way too powerful to confront. And Vietnam is nowhere near as stupid as India.
Now on to the Vietnam vaccine story. We know very well that Vietnam is not and should not be using any Chinese vaccines. But Vietnam likes Sputnik V though. Let's see when China starts exporting licensed-produced Sputnik V. Would Vietnam still accept Sputnik V then?
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