| Since its normalization in 1995,the relationship between Vietnam and the United States has been growing fast.The Obama Administration witnessed the “best moment of the bilateral relationship”.At the same time,the US made the strategy of “Pivoting to Asia and the Pacific Region” and focused on the Southeastern Asia.Given Vietnam's strategic geographic location,the US has worked hard to win it over with both carrots and sticks,hoping that Vietnam will become another American base in the Southeastern Asia.The US has also played Vietnam off against China by taking advantage of their territorial disputes in the South China Sea and sending military vessels and airplanes into the legitimate Chinese territorial waters and airs.To safeguard its own interests and security,Vietnam is very willing to deepen its relationship with the US,because its own status in the international community will be lifted accordingly.It is also intent to make use of the “Pivot” strategy of the US,which makes its disputes with China more complicated.Although it is in their interest to forge closer ties,Vietnam and the US will not form a strategic alliance against China.There are fundamental differences in terms of their political systems and ideologies.The US has been keeping up the pressure on Vietnam with human rights issues.It is also intent on breaking up the socialist camp by infiltrating the democratic ideology into the Vietnamese political systems.The Vietnam,on the other hand,is also vigilant to the “peaceful evolution” strategy of the US.Besides,it has some severe differences with the US on the leftover problems of the Vietnam War.This paper has reviewed the development of the Vietnam-US relationship after the normalization,explored the intentions behind the rapid amelioration of the relationship,analyzed the factors determining the development of the relationship and discussed its impact on China's plan of rejuvenation and actions that China should take in response. |
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