Recently, the leaders of China and Vietnam met and reached an important consensus, which raised the relations between the two countries to a new height. China and Vietnam are "comrades and brothers" and have a profound foundation for friendship and cooperation. However, just as Sino-Vietnamese relations were warming up, Japan suddenly extended an olive branch to Vietnam and vigorously assisted Vietnam's economic construction and personnel training, which aroused widespread attention from the outside world. What is Japan's motivation for aid?Is it really to help Vietnam, or is there other strategic considerations?What is China's view on this?This article will analyze the following aspects.
On December 13, China concluded its state visit to Vietnam and signed the Joint Statement on Comprehensively Deepening the Strategic Cooperative Partnership with its senior leaders. This is the first time that the leaders of the two countries have signed such a joint statement, and it is also a milestone in the history of the development of Sino-Vietnamese relations.
The joint statement pointed out that China and Vietnam are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, socialist countries under the leadership of the Communist Party, strategic cooperative partners, and communities with a shared future. The two countries will adhere to friendly cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win results, jointly maintain and develop relations between the two parties and two countries, seek well-being for the two peoples, and contribute to regional peace and stability. The two countries will strengthen political mutual trust, deepen cooperation in various fields, promote the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the "Two Corridors and One Belt" plan, and promote cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, science and technology, education, culture, tourism, health and human resources, so as to enhance the well-being and happiness of the two peoples. The two countries will strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, uphold multilateralism, oppose unilateralism and bullying, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
The upgrading of Sino-Vietnamese relations is a manifestation of the strategic vision and political wisdom of the leaders of the two countries, as well as a reflection of the common expectations and aspirations of the two peoples. China and Vietnam share similar historical experiences, the same social system, similar development goals, mutual strategic needs, and common cultural bloodlines. China and Vietnam are close brothers, reliable friends, and staunch partners. The upgrading of Sino-Vietnamese relations will inject new impetus and vitality into the long-term development and prosperity of the two countries, regional peace and stability, and world progress and civilization.
At the same time as Sino-Vietnamese relations were escalating, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also visited Japan and was warmly received by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Kishida** has provided substantial assistance to Vietnam, including the establishment of 42.3 billion yen for development** to support the construction of Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1, and the establishment of a Japan scholarship in Vietnam to train talents needed for the transfer of Vietnam's industrial chain. On the surface, these aid measures are aimed at deepening Japan-Vietnam cooperation and providing more development opportunities for Vietnam's economy, but in fact they hide Japan's strategic intentions.
Japan's strategic intentions are mainly twofold. The first is to try to transfer the industrial chain and reduce dependence on China. Japan is a highly developed industrial country, but it is also an island country with few resources and a great dependence on external ** chains. As Japan's largest partner, China is also an important part of Japan's industrial chain. However, due to historical and political reasons, Japan's attitude towards China has always been full of hostility and suspicion, especially under the influence of Sino-US friction and the new crown epidemic, Japan is more worried about China's rise and influence, trying to weaken China's economic strength and enhance its competitive advantage by transferring the industrial chain. Therefore, Japan chose Vietnam as the object of assistance, because Vietnam is a country with a large population, low labor costs, superior geographical location, and large market potential, which is an ideal target for the transfer of Japan's industrial chain. By assisting Vietnam in infrastructure construction and human resource development, Japan hopes to attract more Japanese companies and investment to Vietnam, thereby realizing the transfer of industrial chains.
The second is to try to win over Vietnam and contain China's development. Japan is not only an industrial country, but also a military country, and has a keen observation and judgment of the international and regional security situation. Japan clearly sees that China's development and rise is not only an economic challenge to Japan, but also a security threat to Japan. Japan has been trying to contain and contain China's development by strengthening its alliance with the United States and cooperating with other countries. As a neighbor of China and a littoral state in the South China Sea, Vietnam is an important strategic partner for Japan. By aiding Vietnam, Japan hopes to win over Vietnam and increase Vietnam's dependence and trust in Japan, thereby putting pressure on China on the South China Sea issue, undermining Sino-Vietnamese relations, and weakening China's regional influence.
To sum up, behind Japan's aid to Vietnam is the embodiment of Japan's strategic intentions, and it is a means for Japan to try to transfer the industrial chain and contain China's development. Japan's assistance was not really to help Vietnam, but was planned.
What is China's view on Japan's aid to Vietnam?**Spokesperson Hua Chunying gave a clear and tough response to this at a regular press conference. Hua Xuan Ying said that China has always supported the international community in providing assistance to Vietnam's economic and social development, but any cooperation should be conducive to enhancing mutual trust and promoting common development among countries in the region, and should not target any third party, let alone harm the interests of third parties. Hua Chunying also stressed that China firmly opposes any country to sow discord on the South China Sea issue, incite confrontation, interfere in the normal exchanges of countries in the region, and undermine regional peace and stability. China urges relevant countries to respect the wishes and choices of countries in the region and refrain from doing things that harm others or themselves.
China's response has shocked the East Asian region and the world. China's response demonstrates China's firm position on maintaining regional peace and stability, as well as China's strategic vigilance and warning to Japan. China's response is both a friendly reminder to Vietnam and a harsh criticism of Japan. China's response is not only a resolute defense of its own interests, but also a resolute uptake of international rules. China's response is not only a firm commitment to peaceful development, but also a resolute response to provocations and challenges.
China's response has made Vietnam understand that China and Vietnam are close brothers and a community with a shared future, and should not be confused by Japan's assistance, let alone used by Japan's strategy. China and Vietnam should adhere to friendly cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results, jointly maintain and develop relations between the two parties and two countries, seek well-being for the two peoples, and contribute to regional peace and stability. China's response has made Japan know that China and Japan are important neighbors and big countries in Asia, and they should respect each other, trust each other, cooperate with each other, and play a positive role in the prosperity of Asia and world peace. China and Japan should not confront each other, restrain each other, sabotage each other, and create troubles and hidden dangers for the turmoil in Asia and the crisis in the world. China's response has shown the world that China is a responsible major country, a peaceful country, a cooperative country, and an open country. China is ready to work with other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, jointly respond to global challenges, and jointly achieve human progress and civilization.