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Zhao Ziwen

China and Vietnam’s reiteration of a pledge to better manage maritime disputes following a violent confrontation just weeks ago is the result of restraint born out of political trust, according to analysts.
The two countries in a joint statement on Monday vowed to further manage tensions over the contested South China Sea “through friendly consultations” and cooperation.
However, while both socialist states aim to continue to address the dispute through dialogue, helped by party-to-party exchanges, observers expect differences to persist as both are firm on their positions.
Monday’s statement came as Chinese Premier Li Qiang wrapped up a visit to Vietnam where he met his counterpart, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and top Vietnamese leader To Lam.
In the declaration, the two sides also pledged to “refrain from taking actions that complicate the situation and widen disputes”.
They will also begin joint maritime development in “areas of low sensitivity”, and strengthen exchanges between their defence and security arms.
“Defence and security cooperation is an important pillar of Sino-Vietnamese relations,” the statement issued in Hanoi said, adding that the two sides agreed to further strengthen exchanges between their militaries “at various levels”.


The neighbours also pledged greater cooperation in the economic, public security, and anti-terrorism spheres, as well in fighting challenges including external interference and separatism.
Observers said the similar governing systems in China and Vietnam could help them to adopt restraint over rival maritime claims, partly due to the need for mutual political trust and expanded communication channels.
However, despite a “high” in bilateral ties amid regular top-level exchanges, a fundamental change in their respective positions on the dispute was unlikely, the analysts warned.
Zhu Feng, the executive dean of Nanjing University’s School of International Studies said that both countries were working to avoid having the South China Sea issue become the “exclusive point” in bilateral relations.
“China-Vietnam disputes in the South China Sea have always existed, but the two sides have maintained dialogue and communication, and are maintaining the status quo to prevent more destructive actions,” he said.
According to Ding Duo, an associate research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies in the Chinese island province of Hainan, shared socialist systems meant China and Vietnam had more engagement and consultation channels compared to other regional claimants, especially via relations between their respective communist parties.
“As for Vietnam’s position and practice on the South China Sea issue, China will also negotiate and communicate with Vietnam through party-to-party channels,” Ding said.
“China-Vietnam relations are currently at a high level. Moreover, the political mutual trust between the two sides and the exchanges in various fields have been deepening, and the overall atmosphere [in bilateral relations] is relatively good.”
In August, Vietnamese President To chose China for his first foreign visit after taking over as leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Meeting To in Beijing, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed that China’s “high-level and strategic” ties with Vietnam were a “priority” in its neighbourhood diplomacy.

Ding said recent engagements indicated “a high level of cooperation” featuring “practical demands and mutual trust”.
However, “fundamental disagreements over the South China Sea” might be difficult to resolve, he argued.
“Despite the current goodwill of Hanoi, we have to remember that Vietnam’s position on the South China Sea is still relatively firm,” he said, highlighting “some initiatives that have triggered serious concerns in China”.
China and Vietnam are among rival claimants to the Paracel and Spratly Islands in the resource-rich, economically important waterway.
China has been irked by recent actions from Vietnam, including its coastguard cooperation with the Philippines, another South China Sea claimant, and rapid island reclamation projects in the disputed areas – something Beijing is also accused of doing.
Vietnam has also stepped up exchanges with the United States in recent years, elevating bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership when President Joe Biden visited in September last year.
Biden, whose trip to Hanoi came three months before a visit by Xi, also vowed to maintain “peace and stability” in the region, especially the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, Beijing’s increasingly unyielding attitude in the contested waters has worried Hanoi.
Earlier this month, Vietnam accused Chinese law enforcement of beating fishermen and seizing equipment from a boat operating near the Paracels, which Vietnam claims as the Hoang Sa. China called its actions “professional and restrained”.
“Vietnam’s policy is obvious,” according to Zhu. “On the one hand, it maintains relations with both China and the United States, and on the other hand, it defends its interests in the South China Sea through China and the United States,” he said.
“But the risks certainly cannot be ruled out; how far Vietnam’s political reforms, economic and social development will actually go, and the direction of future US-China relations, will all be the tests that Sino-Vietnamese relations face.”


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News

China

Diplomacy

The socialist states will benefit from party-to-party exchanges, observers say, but warn that maritime differences will persist


The socialist states will benefit from party-to-party exchanges, observers say, but warn that maritime differences will persist.


Vietnam