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Bamboo diplomacy refers to Vietnam's distinctive approach to foreign relations, rooted in principles of flexibility, resilience, and independence. The concept draws inspiration from the bamboo plant, which holds deep cultural significance in Vietnam. Just as bamboo has strong roots, a sturdy trunk, and flexible branches, this diplomatic strategy emphasizes maintaining a firm stance on national sovereignty and independence while adapting to the complex and shifting dynamics of global geopolitics. First introduced in 2016 by Nguyen Phu Trong, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, bamboo diplomacy has become a central tenet of Vietnam's foreign policy, guiding the country's engagement with both traditional and emerging global powers. [1]
Vietnam's foreign policy approach is designed to maximize its national interests while avoiding entanglement in the rivalries of larger states. It involves actively engaging with international organizations and global partners to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for domestic development. At the heart of this strategy is Vietnam's ability to balance its relationships with both China and the United States, two superpowers that vie for influence in Southeast Asia. This balancing act is essential for Vietnam's security and economic prosperity, making bamboo diplomacy a dynamic tool for navigating the complexities of 21st-century geopolitics. [2]
The concept of bamboo diplomacy was formally introduced during the 29th Diplomatic Conference in 2016 by Nguyen Phu Trong. Drawing upon the symbolism of bamboo, Trong likened Vietnam's foreign policy to the plant's resilience and flexibility. Bamboo, which stands firm against strong winds while bending to avoid breaking, serves as an apt metaphor for Vietnam's ability to maintain its independence while being adaptable in a turbulent international environment. [3]
At the philosophical level, bamboo diplomacy is grounded in the teachings of Ho Chi Minh, the founder of modern Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic thought emphasized national independence, resilience, and the harmonious integration of domestic and international values. Ho believed in balancing self-reliance with international cooperation, which has since become a cornerstone of Vietnam's foreign policy. The Doi Moi reforms of the late 1980s further institutionalized this approach, transitioning Vietnam from an ideologically driven foreign policy to one based on pragmatic national interests. [4]
Vietnam operationalizes bamboo diplomacy through proactive and diverse engagement with the global community. Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 190 out of 193 United Nations member states and participates actively in over 70 international organizations and forums, such as ASEAN, APEC, and the World Trade Organization (WTO). This policy reflects a commitment to broadening Vietnam's global ties, ensuring that the country maintains balanced relations with both longstanding partners like China and Russia, and newer, strategic allies such as the United States, Japan, and India. [2]
One of the defining features of bamboo diplomacy is Vietnam's ability to maintain practical neutrality and avoid taking sides in geopolitical conflicts, especially in the context of great power competition between China and the United States. This neutral stance allows Vietnam to benefit economically and strategically from both sides, while ensuring that it does not become overly dependent on or beholden to any single global power. For example, while Vietnam has deepened security cooperation with the U.S. in recent years, it has also maintained strong trade and political relations with China. [5] However, it is worth mentioning that Vietnamese official narratives tend to avoid the direct mentioning the term "neutrality" as well as its forms and alternative implementations, while in fact impliedly disagree with its policies' imposed association to neutrality. Late Vietnam People's Army Colonel General Nguyễn Chí Vịnh once stated Vietnam "is not neutral but instead independent", citing differences between the definitions of "independence" versus "neutrality". [6]
Vietnam's diplomatic efforts also focus on expanding sectoral partnerships in key industries such as the energy transition and semiconductors. These partnerships are critical to Vietnam's long-term development goals, which aim to transform the country into a high-income nation by 2045. [4]
While bamboo diplomacy is unique to Vietnam, several other diplomatic strategies from around the world share similar characteristics, especially in terms of balancing flexibility, neutrality, and independence. These concepts highlight the diplomatic approaches of countries that navigate between larger powers while maintaining their own sovereignty:
Vietnam's bamboo diplomacy has resulted in notable diplomatic successes that have increased the country's stature on the global stage. Vietnam has successfully hosted major international summits, such as the APEC Summit, the ASEAN Summit, and the World Economic Forum on ASEAN, showcasing its role as a responsible and active participant in global governance. The country has also demonstrated its commitment to peace and stability through its participation in UN peacekeeping missions and its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. [2]
Economic diplomacy has been another key success of Vietnam's foreign policy. Thanks to the country's diplomatic efforts, Vietnam has signed numerous free trade agreements, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). These agreements have contributed to Vietnam's economic growth by expanding trade partnerships and attracting foreign investment. [2]
Moreover, Vietnam has built strategic partnerships with major global powers, including all five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US), further cementing its international influence. The country's ability to strengthen ties with these powers while maintaining its neutrality has become one of the cornerstones of bamboo diplomacy. [4]
Despite the successes, Vietnam's bamboo diplomacy faces several challenges in an increasingly polarized and unpredictable global environment. One of the most pressing issues is navigating the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has put pressure on Vietnam to balance its historical ties with Russia against its growing relationships with Western countries like the United States. This balancing act requires Vietnam to maintain its diplomatic neutrality while facing criticism for not taking a firmer stance against Russia's actions. [3]
In addition, China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea remains a significant challenge for Vietnam. While Vietnam has worked to maintain a peaceful and cooperative relationship with China, its territorial claims in the South China Sea have led to tensions, forcing Vietnam to carefully navigate its diplomatic strategy to avoid direct conflict while defending its sovereignty. [4]
Domestically, Vietnam must address internal issues such as labor productivity and economic reforms to maintain its competitiveness and continue attracting foreign investment. The country's ability to balance these internal challenges with its diplomatic efforts is crucial to sustaining its economic growth and international standing. [4]
Since independence, Indonesian foreign relations have adhered to a "free and active" foreign policy, seeking to play a role in regional affairs commensurate with its size and location but avoiding involvement in conflicts among major powers. During the presidency of Sukarno, Indonesia's foreign relations were marked by engagement with other newly independent nations in Asia and Africa, as exemplified by the Bandung Conference, the subsequent foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement and a confrontational attitude towards Western powers, justified by a belief in the CONEFO and opposition to what Sukarno termed as NEKOLIM.
Kyrgyzstan has close relations with other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, particularly Kazakhstan and Russia, given the historical legacy of the Soviet Union. It also has close relations with Turkey as well, given their shared heritage as Turkic languages.
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), has full diplomatic relations with 180 out of the other 192 United Nations member states, Cook Islands, Niue and the State of Palestine. As of 2024, China has had the most diplomatic missions of any state.
Singapore maintains diplomatic relations with 189 UN member states. The three exceptions are the Central African Republic, Monaco and South Sudan.
As of September 2024, Vietnam maintains diplomatic relationships with 191 UN member states, State of Palestine and Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. In 2011 the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, at the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, released an official statement about Vietnam's foreign policy and a section of the statement stated: "Vietnam is a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the international community, actively taking part in international and regional cooperation processes. Deepen, stabilize and sustain established international relations. Develop relations with countries and territories in the world, as well as international organizations, while showing: respect for each other's independence; sovereignty and territorial integrity; non-interference in each other's international affairs; non-use or threat of force; settlement of disagreements and disputes by means of peaceful negotiations; mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit."
Belize maintains 14 embassies to foreign countries, one consulate, and three missions to international organizations. In 1990, Belize became a member of the Organization of American States, and the Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.
Mongolia has diplomatic relations with all 192 UN states, the Holy See, the State of Palestine and the European Union.
A middle power is a state that is not a superpower or a great power, but still exerts influence and plays a significant role in international relations. These countries often possess certain capabilities, such as strong economies, advanced technologies, and diplomatic influence, that allow them to have a voice in global affairs. Middle powers are typically seen as bridge-builders between larger powers, using their diplomatic skills to mediate conflicts and promote cooperation on international issues.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is the executive department of the Philippine government tasked to contribute to the enhancement of national security, protection of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty, to participate in the national endeavor of sustaining development and enhancing the Philippines' competitive edge, to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas and to mobilize them as partners in national development, to project a positive image of the Philippines, and to increase international understanding of Philippine culture for mutually-beneficial relations with other countries.
The Fukuda Doctrine is a Japanese foreign policy doctrine, based on a 1977 speech by Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, stating that Japan would never become a military power. On the contrary, the policy proposes to enhance relations with Southeast Asian countries in wide-ranging fields, as well as to increase cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member countries. The Fukuda Doctrine serves as the foundation of Japanese diplomacy toward the rest of Asia.
Russia–Vietnam relations date back formally to 30 January 1950, when the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics established an embassy to North Vietnam. The Soviet Union was one of the first countries in the world to recognize and formally establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam, laying the foundations for strong and cooperative friendship between the two countries.
Chinese-Laotian relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Lao People's Democratic Republic and the People's Republic of China.
Relations between Vietnam and China had been extensive for a couple of millennia, with Northern Vietnam especially under heavy Sinosphere influence during historical times. Despite their Sinospheric and socialist background, centuries of conquest by modern China's imperial predecessor as well as modern-day tensions have made relations wary. The People's Republic of China (PRC) ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) assisted North Vietnam and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) during the Vietnam War whilst the Taiwan-based Republic of China (ROC) was allied with South Vietnam.
India–Vietnam relations, also known as Indian-Vietnamese relations, are the bilateral relations of India and Vietnam.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, abbreviated KLN, is a ministry of the Government of Malaysia that is responsible for foreign affairs, Malaysian diaspora, foreigners in Malaysia, diplomacy, foreign relations, counter terrorism, bilateral affairs, multilateral affairs, ASEAN, international protocol, consular services, maritime affairs, and chemical weapons. It is currently based in Putrajaya. It is also widely known as Wisma Putra, which is also the name of its building in Putrajaya.
Pakistan-Vietnam relations, or Pakistani-Vietnamese relations, refers to the bilateral relationship between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The relationship is largely based on mutual trade and international political cooperation between the two countries. Pakistan is represented in Vietnam by its embassy in Hanoi, and Vietnam also maintains an embassy in Islamabad. During the Cold War, Pakistan maintained close ties with the United States-led Western Bloc to counter rival India's allegiance with the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the United States was involved in the Vietnam War against Soviet-backed North Vietnam while in the same time period, Pakistan had engaged in two major wars with neighbouring India in 1965 and 1971, the latter of which resulted in a devastating defeat for Pakistan and saw the emergence of an independent Bangladesh. Due to the fact that Pakistan was an ally with the United States and had begun to indirectly wage war against the Soviets in Afghanistan with heavy U.S.−backing, relations became strained between the two, with Pakistan closing its diplomatic mission in Vietnam in 1980 and Vietnam doing the same in 1984. However, relations greatly improved in the 2000s, and Pakistan reopened its embassy in Hanoi in October 2000. Vietnam also reopened its embassy in Islamabad and trade office in Karachi in December and November 2005, respectively. Relations between the two countries have continued to remain friendly, with Vietnam expressing an interest in increased economic and military cooperation with Pakistan. The heads of both nations have in recent times paid official visits to each other, with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf visiting Vietnam in May 2001 and Vietnamese President Trần Đức Lương also paying an official visit to Pakistan in March 2004. Throughout the following decade, several visits were made by various Vietnamese and Pakistani ministries to each other. A major part of Pakistan's pursuit to enhance its relationship with Vietnam is outlined in Pakistan's "Vision East Asia" strategy. The emergence of such a strategy came as a result of Pakistan's desire to balance its relations with Vietnam and other East Asian / Southeast Asian states by making an effort to circumvent Pakistan's close relationship with China and Vietnam's growing relationship with India—the former being a cause of concern for Vietnam due to its tense relationship with China and the latter being a cause of concern for Pakistan due to its rivalry and history of armed conflict with India.
China–Thailand relations officially started in July 1975 after years of negotiations. For a long time, Thailand, formerly called Siam, had good relations with China. China was usually greatly respected in Siam and ensured the alliance of both countries. However, after Plaek Phibunsongkhram attempted to erase and prohibit Chinese culture and influence in the country, relations were seriously damaged.
Brunei and China established formal diplomatic relations in 1991. Brunei has an embassy in Beijing, and China has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan.
In political science, triangular diplomacy is a foreign policy of the United States, developed during the Vietnam War (1955–1975) by Henry Kissinger, as a means to manage relations between the contesting communist powers, the Soviet Union and China. Connecting heavily with the correlating policy of linkage, the policy was intended to exploit the ongoing rivalry between the two Communist powers, as a means to strengthen American hegemony and diplomatic interest.
Dmytro Ivanovych Kuleba is a Ukrainian politician and diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was concurrently a member of the National Defense and Security Council of Ukraine.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link)Vietnam is not neutral, Vietnam is independent. Being independent is utterly different from being neutral. We are independent on the basis of ethical principles, international law, and Vietnam's interests.
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