Balanced News: US, Vietnam raise relations to highest level

During his visit to Vietnam, U.S. President Joe Biden upgraded the relationship between the two countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership, on par with China and Russia. The move comes as the U.S. seeks to diversify its supply chain and build a stable base in the region, with some analysts suggesting it is a hedge against Chinese influence. However, Vietnam watcher Carl Thayer believes Vietnam will manage the new relationship without aligning with either China or the U.S. Vietnam’s struggling economy and its need for diverse sources of weapons are also factors in the upgraded relationship.