U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday he would travel to Vietnam "shortly" as part of an effort to improve ties with Hanoi, as Washington seeks to counter China's influence in the region.
"I'm going to be going to Vietnam shortly because Vietnam wants to change our relationship and become a partner," Biden said during remarks in New Mexico.
"We find ourselves in a situation where all these changes around the world are taking place at a time we have an opportunity ... to change the dynamic," he added.
The United States and Vietnam have increasingly close trade links, while both share concern over China's growing strength in the region.
Friction has been increasing for years between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations, particularly Vietnam and the Philippines, over China's sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea.
Washington and Hanoi pledged in April to upgrade diplomatic ties when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stopped over on his way to a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting in Japan.
"We think this is an auspicious time to elevate our existing partnership," Blinken told reporters during the visit with Vietnamese leaders.
"We've had for the last 10 years this comprehensive partnership that has created an incredibly strong foundation of cooperation across many different areas. As a result, we think this is a good moment to go even further."
Blinken also attended a ground-breaking for a new U.S. embassy in Hanoi.
And in March, Biden spoke with the head of Vietnam's ruling Communist party, Nguyen Phu Trong.
Washington has, however, bristled over human rights concerns in Vietnam, with Blinken saying he continued "to underscore how future progress on human rights is essential to unleashing the full potential of the Vietnamese people."
The South China Sea, the longtime center of tensions between China and Vietnam, is seen as a powder keg, and many fear a miscalculation or accident could ignite a military conflict.
Analysts say Hanoi may be more reluctant to elevate relations with Washington, wary of upsetting Beijing -- an important economic partner -- despite rival claims in the South China Sea.
The United States has no territorial claim over the waters, but has persisted in conducting its own patrols there, angering Beijing.
Washington says this is to ensure what it terms "freedom of navigation" in the sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually.
The United States has also sought to improve relations with China in recent months, with Blinken visiting in June after a previous trip was canceled when an alleged Chinese spy balloon was shot down by a U.S. warplane after traversing the country earlier this year.
© 2023 AFP
19 Comments
dagon
Please disregard how Agent Orange, landmines, the MyLai massacre and Strategic Air Command carpet bombing may have had a bit of influence on retarding the full potential of the Vietnamese people.
Yrral
He should visit Cuba, before he visit Vietnam,Cuba is less repressive than they are made to be, even though the practice of Liberty, Equality And Justice for All,are not in abundance,at least people are not being murdered by government officials
Yrral
Lots of American presidents suffer from psychological insecurity,even Bush admitted he was impacted psychologically by the constant rhetoric, Biden at his age is affected even more, maybe Biden should think about not running again for the sake of the party
Blacklabel
Kinda like he will visit the US/Mexico border shortly and the train derailment in Palestine, Ohio shortly?
or the case of Vietnam is he actually going?
wallace
Blacklabel
today you complained about the lack of Biden articles.
Headline
Biden says he will visit Vietnam 'shortly'
plasticmonkey
Definitely fishy. I say this is the final straw. Impeach now!
EFD
Trump never visited train accidents where fatalities occurred and neither did a cabinet-level appointee. But what's consistency when one wants to complain?
Alfie Noakes
"The Grand Canyon, one of the earth's nine wonders. Wonders of the world, literally. Think of that. You know, it's amazing!"
Poor old feller, dragged around the world when he can barely find the door from one room to the next. Sad.
Blacklabel
Trump went to Palestine, Ohio.
but again why is trump even being mentioned?
To cover up/try to distract from the fact Biden didn’t.
typical. yeah let’s see when Biden makes it to Vietnam and if we can consider that as “short” between now and then.
Blacklabel
Yeah and THIS is what we get? a maybe gonna do something shortly?
EFD
He wasn't president. And as president he never visited train accidents where fatalities occurred and neither did his cabinet-level appointees (unlike Pete).
Because of your false equivalence between Biden visiting a country as head of state which is a normal role, and Trump, like Biden, NOT visiting the site of a rail accident where fatalities occurred.
It's called consistency and your lack of it.
EFD
Maybe if Biden boinks a porn-star and then pays her 130k to hush her up (and fails to document it), or....
Rapes a woman in a dressing room, or.....
Commits massive tax bank fraud overstating the value of his properties to get loans and then debasing the value of the same buildings during the same period to evade taxation, or......
Steals nuclear secrets, war plans and other secret info and shows them to joe blow and then obstructs their recovery, or......
Attempts to blackmail a state AG to "find" votes, or......
TRIES TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT to save himself from the results of an election that he objectively lost, THEN.....
perhaps you will have something to talk about.
But he didn't. So you don't.
plasticmonkey
Aren’t there more important things for you to fret about than how soon Biden fulfills his pledge to visit Vietnam? Like Joe’s “Dark Brandon” merch sales or Hunter’s laptop?
Blacklabel
So does he visit by the end of the year? Or does “Doctor” Jill get a trip out of it?
JeffLee
Smart idea. The Vietnamese have long been the most pro-American people on Earth after Poland, with a healthy and robust fear and hatred of China. The timing is right for the West to drive a wedge between China and its next-door neighbors.
Blacklabel
yes they have been. But they wont be after Joe visits, if he ever goes.
cause Joe and his family took money, lot of it, from that country that Vietnam hates and fears, you see.....
So kinda makes people wonder whose side is he really on? the bank account shows the truth.
Lord Dartmouth
I'm surprised he didn't say 'South Vietnam'.
Lord Dartmouth
I guess he's going to visit Beau's grave. He was killed in Nam, as far as I remember.....
sunfunbun
Good on Biden to visit Vietnam.
Blacklabel: for all your whining against democracy, and hate on anything Biden or a non MAGA does, I do question 100% why you just don't understand you are a non supporter of the US constitution(by way of support for the insurrection and Trump) and do not care if something is good for the country.
You root for America's defeat and hate the president going to Vietnam? It's complete bias on your part and nothing that actually makes any sense, but we're used to it. It's silly, but that can't be helped, I guess...
Much like the idiotic Megan Kelly and Trump, rooting against the USA in the World Cup, ya'll care more for a fascist government than improved state of democracy and human rights in the USA. Vietnam is a positive trip for Biden and the United States.
You absolutely do not believe in democracy, it's really silly to deny it.
It's un American, but then, all MAGA is.