China and Vietnam tighten ties in a ‘3+3’ strategic pivot

The inclusion of public security alongside diplomacy and defence in their new dialogue mechanism has piqued analysts’ interest

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son in Beijing on December 10. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:00am, 22 Dec 2024

It’s not every day that China pioneers a new diplomatic mechanism. But earlier this month, it launched a “3+3” dialogue with Vietnam – a first for Beijing, which has traditionally relied on a simpler “2+2” format in bilateral relations.

The dialogue, which focuses on diplomacy, defence and public security, comes at a time when Southeast Asia is increasingly being seen as a geopolitical chessboard for superpower rivalry.

Analysts say the move signals China’s ambition to draw Vietnam closer into its orbit, while Hanoi seeks to hedge its bets by balancing ties with other global powers.

“This framework is crucial for Beijing,” said Huynh Tam Sang, an international-relations lecturer at Vietnam National University. “It helps facilitate Vietnam’s alignment with China, particularly at a time when the US, under Trump 2.0, could leverage Vietnam to counter China’s influence in Southeast Asia.”

Officials from the Communist Party of China meet with their Vietnamese counterparts in Beijing earlier this month. Photo: Xinhua

The mechanics of ‘3+3’

Officials from both countries’ foreign affairs, military and public security circles assembled for the meeting. Vietnamese state media reported that the session was held at the vice-ministerial level, and China’s state-run Global Times hailed the mechanism as a “pioneering effort”.