By Hunter Marston Much of the news coverage on Vietnam’s economy in the past year focused on corruption scandals, inept state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and dim growth prospects. But this reporting has overlooked promising new signs of growth as the central…
By Carl Thayer Lew Stern, writing recently in the East-West Center’s Asia Pacific Bulletin, suggests that Vietnam’s leaders have adopted “an entirely new strategic vocabulary” following a decade of reforms and globalization. Stern cites, in particular, the importance attached to…
By Greg Poling Recent months have seen a steady progression of China’s long-term strategy in the South China Sea, which can be loosely divided into two parts. Beijing is building up its maritime surveillance forces in the area and strengthening…
By Carl Thayer Lew Stern argues that Vietnam has adopted a new strategic vocabulary that will facilitate an upgrade in U.S.-Vietnam defense relations from a “comprehensive partnership” to a “strategic partnership.”* Stern ascribes greater efficacy to the term “strategic partner”…
By Jonathan D. London Internationally, the rhythms of Vietnam’s political calendar are not frequently discussed. And yet in the context of escalating regional tensions and of fragile efforts to address them, it is worth noting that January, February, and March…
By Julie Bishop, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs The empowerment of women and girls is one of the most effective ways to achieve higher economic growth and better living standards among the millions of people in developing countries in our region.…
Over the final two weeks in January the CSIS Asia team hosted more than 1,200 visitors for five public events covering issues directly connected to the Asia-Pacific including tensions in the East China Sea, the U.S.-Australia alliance, the ROK-U.S. alliance,…
By Carl Thayer The Hainan provincial government’s announcement last December that foreign ships transiting through waters within the nine-dash line area claimed by China must get permission from the relevant Chinese authorities is a major escalation of China’s claims in…
Who is he? Vu Duc Dam is a newly appointed deputy prime minister of Vietnam. In this capacity, his portfolio encompasses social and cultural issues and science and technology. His most recent post was head of the Prime Minister’s Office,…
Who is he? David Shear is currently the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, a posting he has held since 2011. From 2009 to 2011, Shear was deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.…
