Lives in AsiacUpdated 4y
Question: Why does Vietnam not want to become a neutral country like Switzerland? Why has Vietnam switched itself from pro-Russia, pro-China, anti-America to pro-America, anti-China? Why can’t Vietnam be consistent?
Answer: I think that your questions are interesting.
First of all, Why does Vietnam not want to become a neutral country like Switzerland?
I think that Vietnam has always wanted to become the Switzerland of Asia. However, the reality is different quite far from Vietnam’s wish.
Switzerland lies between these greatest Empires between France, Italy, Germany, and Austria (Former part of Austria-Hungary Empire) which this country could use one of them to re-balance with the others if it faces aggression from one. Together with its hard terrain, its strong fighting against invaders, having poor natural resources, most of the great powers in Europe agree about the neutral status for Switzerland. It means that its neutral status requires many factors but one of the most important things is that others agree with it. If not, Switzerland could have not become neutral.
So, we could sum up some factors to help Switzerland keeping its neutrality as follows;
(1) Hard terrain
(2) The location between great powers
(3)The strong spirit of fighting and defending their country
(4) Having poor natural resources which will never be attractive enough to the possible invasion war of great powers.
(5) Other countries, especially the great power around agree with the neutrality of Switzerland.
Now, we will check with Vietnam.
For Vietnam: It has the less perfect location to keep its neutrality like Switzerland
(1) With Vietnam, they also have quite a difficult terrain but not enough difficult as Switzerland.
(2) Location: Also, there is also a lack of superpower enough closer to the Vietnamese border which Vietnam could be used to re-balance effectively against China as in Switzerland’s case. However, I think that the Former Soviet Union, India could be the best choice for Vietnam due to having a common border with China, America is still too far. Nevertheless, the role of Vietnam for the Soviet Union or India will be never enough important as the Switzerland case with France, Germany, Italy. So, Vietnam must find other ways such as improving its strength reached to the level of South Korea today will be better for Vietnam.
(Dien Bien Phu battle 1954)
(3)The strong spirit of fighting and defending their country: I think that the Vietnamese are very strong at this point.
(4): Unlike Switzerland, Vietnam is not really poor in natural resources which explains partly why Vietnam has been invaded by outside great powers.
(5) In Contrary to Switzerland, the great powers from Japan, France, China, the Soviet Union, America has not really agreed about the neutrality of Vietnam
From 1940–1945, Japan invaded and controlled Vietnam which led to the anti-Japan in Vietnam.
From 1945–1954, France with American support re-invaded Vietnam again which forced Vietnam to become Anti-French and Anti-America.
From 1955–1975, America, China, and the Soviet Union involved in Vietnam, even America invaded and controlled directly South Vietnam which resulted in the Pro-Soviet Union and Pro-China in Vietnam.
From 1975–1991, China and its ally – the Cambodian Khmer Rouge invaded Vietnam and forced Vietnam to become Anti-China.
From 1991-today, China has tried to claim most of the Vietnamese rightful EEZ which spark Anti-China again. And, the US has seemed to support Vietnam on the South China Sea which leads to the Pro-US in Vietnam today.
Secondly, Why has Vietnam switched itself from pro-Russia, pro-China, anti-America to pro-America, anti-China?
I think that Vietnam has switched itself from Pro-Russia/Soviet Union, Pro-China, Anti-America to Pro-America, Anti-China indicate the change of the Vietnamese national interests just as China switched from Pro-Soviet Union, Anti-America to Pro-America, Anti-Soviet Union, then, Anti-America again like today.
Thirdly, Your third question “Why cannot Vietnam be consistent?
I think that Vietnam can be consistent with its friends including old friends and also new friends.
Unlike China, Vietnam has never betrayed its old friends, first and never done something harmful to its old friends.
For old friends of Vietnam such as Russia (Former Soviet Union), Cuba, Laos: Vietnam still has maintained close relationships with them and will still be consistent with them if these countries still regard Vietnam as their friends.
(Vietnam still regard Laos as one of the sole allies of Vietnam in the region and world)
(Vietnam vs Cuba, Vietnam has still sent much aid to Cuban, removed the debt to Cuba every year, and still condemn the US for imposing sanction on Cuba – And, Cuba is still the traditional friend and ideological ally of Vietnam)
Russia is still the consistent ally and traditional friend of Vietnam and I do not think that Vietnam has any reason to betray this relation with Russia except Russia started to regard Vietnam as its enemy. So, Vietnam is still a pro-Russian country in the world.
For former communist countries, especially the countries in the former communist bloc led by the Soviet Union: Vietnam has still tried to maintain a good relationship with them even though these countries had abandoned their communism and their pasts with Vietnam because Vietnam respects the choice of these countries about how they manage their own countries.
(Vietnam vs Poland)
For the new friends of Vietnam from other ASEAN countries, the western countries including former enemies such as Japan, the US, France..etc: Vietnam has consistently carried out the main policy of making friends with all countries in the world, especially after the collapse of the communist bloc led by the Soviet Union. Vietnam has no other choice or could not be consistent with the communist block which has no longer existed.
For Cambodia:
Vietnam has always consistently maintained friends with her, even in the Cambodian Khmer Rouge period. However, under the support of China, the Khmer Rouge started to invade Vietnam first and massacre the Vietnamese people such as the Ba Chuc massacre which directly led to the collapse of the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge period 1975–1978.
After Vietnam helped to liberate Cambodia from the genocidal regime backed by China (Khmer Rouge), Vietnam has maintained a good relationship with Cambodia and all of the Cambodian government later. I do not think that Vietnam has any reason to betray Cambodia except Cambodia wanted to invade Vietnam first like under the Khmer Rouge period
For China: Before 1978, Vietnam was still the unofficial ally and friend of China and other communist countries based on the friendship and comradeship between the internationalism of communism. However, China betrayed the communist blocs including Vietnam and moved close to the US and the western countries. China even together with the Khmer Rouge invaded Vietnam first. How Vietnam could be consistent with China and the Khmer Rouge when it was being invaded first?
After 1991, Vietnam and China have normalized their relationship but since 2009, China has often threatened Vietnam on the South China Sea, even attacked the Vietnamese ships, prevented the normal maritime activities of Vietnam.
Link:
For North Korea: Before 1979, North Korea was one of the main friends and also ideological allies of Vietnam. However, the relationship has changed much since North Korea’s involvement in the third Indochina war and also supported China and the Cambodian Khmer Rouge which resulted in the collapse of the Vietnamese-North Korean relationship. Today, the Vietnamese-North Korean relationship is still warm and close but not like before.
In the end, From my view, Vietnam wants to be a neutral country like Switzerland but will not become a neutral country at any price including the sacrifice of the Vietnamese sovereignty or betraying its friends first. Vietnam will always be consistent with its friends except these friends did regard Vietnam as their enemies first such as China or the Khmer Rouge.
Lusia Millar
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