Snips:
When China and Vietnam sat down in Hanoi on March 16 for their first-ever ‘3+3’ strategic dialogue, it marked the launch of a new kind of coordination – one that goes beyond the usual playbook.
Most countries stick to the tried and tested ‘2+2’ format, bringing together foreign and defense officials. But China and Vietnam added a third pillar: Public security. This may sound technical, but it’s actually a big deal. It means the conversation now spans everything from military coordination to policing, cybersecurity, and internal stability – the full spectrum of what both governments consider ‘security’ in today’s world.
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Chinese officials have even linked this cooperation to the resilience and relevance of socialist governance models in today’s world, adding an ideological dimension to what might otherwise look like purely technical coordination.
It’s easy to focus on the forward momentum, but China-Vietnam relations haven’t always been smooth. The 1979 border war is a stark reminder that conflict between the two is not ancient history. There have also been periodic tensions in the South China Sea. These issues haven’t disappeared, but they are being managed.
