Biden in Vietnam: We are not trying to start a 'cold war' with China

(Patria) - President Joe Biden said on Sunday that he is not trying to start a "cold war" with China during his first visit to Vietnam, saying his goal is to ensure stability around the world by building American ties with Vietnam and other Asian countries.

"We have an opportunity to strengthen alliances around the world to maintain stability. That's what this trip is about," Biden said at a press conference.

"It's not about containing China. It's about having a stable base."

The US President arrived in Hanoi as Vietnam elevates its diplomatic status with the US to comprehensive strategic partner, a testament to how much the relationship has evolved from what Biden called the "bitter past" of the Vietnam War.

The expanded partnership reflects broader efforts across Asia to counter Chinese influence, as Biden said Vietnam wants to show its independence, and American companies want an alternative to Chinese factories. But Biden is pursuing these agreements while simultaneously trying to de-escalate any tensions with China.

Biden's comments come after he was warmly welcomed in Hanoi on Sunday, where he predicted the "beginning of an era of even greater cooperation" with Vietnam.

"Vietnam and the United States are essential partners" at an "extremely important" moment for the world, the US President stated at the beginning of a meeting with the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phú Trọng.

Careful not to be perceived as taking sides with Washington or Beijing, Hanoi wants to strengthen its position against China, against the backdrop of maritime and territorial rivalry.

The country, however, does not rely solely on American support. The New York Times reported that Vietnam is secretly negotiating a new arms deal with Russia - despite international sanctions.

Jon Finer, Deputy National Security Advisor to Joe Biden, explained that Vietnam and Russia have cooperated in military cooperation for decades, but, according to Finer, there is "growing discomfort among the Vietnamese" regarding this relationship.

He said that Washington and its allies could help Hanoi "diversify its partners" in an unstable political climate.

Joe Biden will meet with President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Monday, and also plans to pay tribute while in Hanoi at a monument dedicated to the late John McCain, a former American war hero and politician.

McCain was a prisoner of war in Vietnam and later helped rebuild ties between the two countries.

During his visit, Biden will also have to reconcile strategic interests with the defense of human rights, for which Vietnam has been criticized.

Dissenters have reportedly faced intimidation, harassment, and imprisonment after unfair trials, and there have been reports of torture to extract confessions, according to Human Rights Watch.

Activists fear that the US President, despite his eloquent speeches about defending democracy in the world, will avoid this topic in Hanoi.