On July 19, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, passed away. The following day, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping, personally visited the Vietnamese Embassy in China to offer condolences and sign the condolence book. Experts interpreting China’s high-profile treatment of Nguyen Phu Trong’s passing cite four main reasons, highlighting the complex relationship between communist allies while acknowledging their collaboration and competition.
Xi Jinping’s visit to the Vietnamese Embassy in China to mourn Nguyen Phu Trong was accompanied by members of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee, Cai Qi, and Wang Yi. China’s state media CCTV dedicated a 4-minute segment to Xi Jinping’s solemn moment at Nguyen Phu Trong’s portrait, where he stayed for a long moment of silence before signing the condolence book.
During Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam last year, he referred to Nguyen Phu Trong as an “old friend” and a “good friend.” In his recent message, Xi Jinping elevated Nguyen Phu Trong to a “great friend.” The Chinese Communist Party promptly sent a message of condolences to the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, expressing China’s sorrow.
Comparatively, when Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in mid-May, China sent Li Hongzhong, a member of the Chinese Communist Party Central Political Bureau and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, to offer condolences at the Iranian Embassy in Beijing. In 2022, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom passed away, Xi Jinping’s rare personal visit to offer condolences signifies the importance of the event.
Wang Wen Yue, Associate Professor and Department Head of the Southeast Asia Research Center at Jinan University, elaborated on four reasons for China’s actions. First, ideologically, only four communist countries remain globally, with North Korea, China, and Vietnam in Asia. Maintaining the legitimacy of communist ideology is crucial for the Chinese Communist Party’s rule, even if it may not hold much substantive belief.
He analyzed that due to Nguyen Phu Trong’s staunch Marxist-Leninist stance, Vietnam plays a crucial role in upholding the communist ideological front, aligning with his principles is a rational move for China.
Regarding bilateral party diplomacy, there is a history of mutual visits and established trust and friendship between Nguyen Phu Trong and Xi Jinping, as well as other Chinese leaders. Commemorating Nguyen Phu Trong is deemed fitting from both public and private perspectives.
Strategically, Vietnam has cultivated significant relations with Western powers, including accepting visits by US aircraft carriers and purchasing Western weapons. China is concerned about Vietnam potentially aligning with the West or undermining Chinese interests in the South China Sea.
In light of widespread rumors and speculation amidst the Third Plenum, including unfounded claims about Xi Jinping’s health, the conspicuous display of mourning serves to dispel such rumors and misinformation.
Wang Wen Yue emphasized the complex nature of the collaborative and competitive relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and the Communist Party of Vietnam. The sentiment “the closest brothers are the most dangerous enemies” characterizes the cautious outlook Vietnam holds towards China, viewing it as the primary external threat to national security.
In conclusion, the dynamics between China and Vietnam reflect a mixture of cooperation and rivalry, underscoring the delicate balance of power and interests in the region.