The Great Vietnam "war": U.S. and China launch a pivotal battle for Southeast Asia's key manufacturing hub

On April 14, 2025, Xi Jinping and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam held talks on a joint response to the United States' global tariff campaign. 

As a result, the PRC and Vietnam signed 45 agreements to strengthen supply chains and railroad connections. Their text remains unpublished.

The main goal of China during Xi Jinping's visit was to disrupt the tariff negotiations between the United States and Vietnam scheduled for May 2025.

Although its consequences have not yet yielded the desired results for Beijing, they have strengthened Hanoi's negotiating position and at the same time weakened the ultimatum pressure from the Donald Trump administration.