Vietnam Recalibrates After Trump-Duterte Combo Upsets Strategy
- Leaders hold high-profile meetings with China, U.S. and Japan
- Setbacks include TPP trade deal, South China Sea disputes
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Vietnam is moving to firm up key relationships after the rise of unpredictable politicians in the U.S. and the Philippines upset its trade and security strategy.
A trio of high-profile diplomatic exchanges over the next week highlight a careful balancing act as Donald Trump prepares to take office. Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong began a four-day visit on Thursday to China -- Vietnam’s biggest trading partner -- that includes a meeting with President Xi Jinping. Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Hanoi on Friday for talks. And next week Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes his first trip to Vietnam since 2013.