Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong’s recent visit to Japan has highlighted the Southeast Asian country’s growing importance among nations concerned about Beijing’s behavior, including its maritime claims in the South China Sea.
Located in the eastern part of the Indochina Peninsula, Vietnam shares borders with China, Laos, and Cambodia and has coastlines along the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea.
As a significant economic player in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has become attractive for Western countries looking to diversify their supply chains and mitigate strategic risks. It also plays an essential role in the global supply chain for some world-leading companies.
According to official data, Vietnam has attracted foreign investment from 142 countries and regions. Major technology giants like Intel, Apple, Google, and Boeing are actively expanding their research in Vietnam’s supply chain.
U.S. President Joe Biden visited Vietnam in September, elevating the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” This has been seen as a sign of Hanoi growing closer to Washington under the backdrop of the U.S. advancing its “Indo-Pacific…
Read the full article here