Vietnam’s Proactive Foreign Relations

In the post-Cold War era, Vietnam has been successful in expanding relations both regionally and globally. And whereas China remains a strategic challenge for Vietnam in the South China Sea, Hanoi has sought to defuse tensions and remains reluctant to side with other major powers to try and balance China. Ramses Amer argues that this is a lesson Vietnam has learned from its past experiences in dealing with major powers, with Vietnam eager instead to pursue a “proactive” approach to its foreign relations aimed at expanding and deepening collaboration with other countries.