Biden from Hanoi: 'I don't want to contain China'
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The US President claims that the US was not looking to "hurt China" by recent moves to strengthen ties with its neighbors.
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President Joe Biden addresses a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, on September 10, 2023. (AP)
On the third day of high-profile visits to India and Vietnam, US President Joe Biden has expressed that relations with China's neighbors are not meant to "contain" Beijing or "hurt China," rather the goal of the US is to "get the relationship right."
“I don’t want to contain China,” he said, using the personal pronoun "I" during a news conference in Hanoi shortly after elevating the US-Vietnam relationship. “We’re not trying to hurt China, he said, speaking collectively, in reference to the country he presides.
The message contradicts recent steps taken by the administration as a week ago, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo expressed that the US would maintain its tough position on denying China cutting-edge microchips, claiming that technology advancements might be exploited to bolster the Asian nation's military capability.
“It’s not about containing China,” Biden stressed, “It’s about having a stable base, a stable base in the Indo-Pacific.”
Responding to reporters, Biden expressed, “We think too much in Cold War terms,” adding that he was "sincere about getting the relationship right."
“I just want to make sure we have a relationship with China that is on the up and up, squared away. Everybody knows what it’s all about,” Biden stated.
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Last week, China's top security agency stated that any future meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping would be contingent on the United States' "sincerity" for meaningful conversation.
Although the Chinese President is scheduled to visit Vietnam in the coming weeks, Biden blamed not meeting with Xi in 10 months due to the Chinese leader having his "hands full" with a bolstered economy.
Although the US and Vietnam have boosted their relationship in a "comprehensive strategic partnership," that does not imply Washington is now an ally.
Biden expressed what he called an "enormous opportunity" on Sunday inside Hanoi's presidential palace, calling the US and Vietnam "critical partners" during a critical time.
After his meeting in Hanoi, Biden expressed the partnership is a demonstration "to our Indo-Pacific partners and to the world, the United States is a Pacific nation and we're not going anywhere."
On Russia
Vietnam's long-standing connection with Russia is being tested by the conflict in Ukraine, including negotiations with Moscow about a new military supply contract that might result in US sanctions.
According to White House Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, the US is in negotiations with Vietnam and other past Russian partners to demonstrate that there are worthwhile alternatives to working with Moscow.
Pressure is growing on the administration of US President Joe Biden to escalate against Russia and globalize the military fight against Moscow, despite the very serious repercussions of such a move on both the US and Europe alike, Responsible Statecraft said in a report on Thursday.
Documents seen by Reuters describe discussions for a credit line that Russia would offer to Vietnam to purchase heavy equipment such as anti-ship missiles, anti-submarine planes and helicopters, anti-aircraft missile systems, and fighter jets.
One of them, a letter written to the Russian government in May by Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, expressed interest in the potential new contract.
A Vietnamese military officer verified the letter's authenticity and the discussions for a new $8 billion credit line to purchase heavy weapons.
Similar talks are allegedly ongoing with the US, which include a security dimension. US principal deputy national security advisor Jon Finer told reporters Sunday that no arms deal has yet been announced but divulged that the US has offered Hanoi help to move away from Russian equipment.
On chips and semiconductors
Semiconductors were also a crucial part of the action plan during Biden's visitو according to US officials.
Under the CHIPS Act, the US government has $100 million available every year for five years to boost global semiconductor supply chains. According to authorities, a considerable portion of it may be diverted to Vietnam.
In July 2022, Congress passed the CHIPS Act under the pretext of strengthening domestic semiconductor manufacturing and reinforcing the United States' microchip supply chains.
More assistance for training talented professionals is also included in the agreement since Vietnam has a severe lack of engineers in the semiconductor business.
Another major concern is developing supply networks for vital minerals, particularly rare earths, for which Vietnam, according to US estimates, possesses the world's greatest resources behind China.
Without providing details, two sources familiar divulged a pact was in the works during the US President's visit, which comes to a close on Monday.
