Malaysia And Vietnam Upgrade Relationship To A Comprehensive Strategic Partnership – OpEd

Malaysia and Vietnam have upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in November 2024.

As Malaysia becomes the first Southeast Asian nation to sign CSP with Vietnam, the upgrade in diplomatic relations signals a more united stand against China’s claims in the South China Sea, say analysts.

Vietnam and Malaysia share a maritime border in the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea, and have overlapping claims in the Spratly Islands. 

Both of which have overlapping claims with China in the strategic waterway, stand to gain from signing the CSP, experts told the Channel News Asia (CAN) news website..

They added that the announcement of the CSP, widely considered one of the highest levels of diplomatic ties, could pave the way for further relations between Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations.

Dr Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow from the Vietnam studies programme at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, said the enhanced partnership between Hanoi and Putrajaya could signal a “more cohesive ASEAN approach to addressing China’s expansionism in the region”.

“Vietnam is methodically constructing a network of robust relationships with ASEAN neighbours to achieve strategic equilibrium vis-a-vis China’s regional influence,” he told CNA.

Malaysia and Vietnam have established their diplomatic relations in 1973.

The signing of the CSP took place during Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam’s official visit to Malaysia from Nov 21 to Nov 23, 2024 at the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

After the Malaysia-Vietnam CSP signing, the countries issued a joint statement on Nov. 21 pledging further collaboration in defence and security issues, science and technology, green energy, education, human resources development, culture, sports, and tourism.

A point that stood out was a promise to work “closely” together to maintain security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, and to promote peaceful settlement of disputes.

The statement also mentioned the importance of adhering to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and to “refrain from undertaking activities that could escalate tension” in the South China Sea.

Vietnam maintains three tiers of diplomatic relationship with other countries: Comprehensive partnerships; strategic partnerships; and comprehensive strategic partnerships (CSP). A CSP is the highest tier.

In March 2024, Vietnam signed a CSP with Australia, with both countries pledging to deepen political, defence security and justice cooperation. In a joint statement, the countries promised to enhance economic engagement and strengthen climate cooperation.

The countries also expressed concerns on the situation in the South China Sea and reaffirmed their commitment to peace, security, stability, freedom of navigation and overflight, and unimpeded lawful commerce.

They also agreed to adhere to legal and diplomatic processes and to the settlement of disputes, including those in the South China Sea, by peaceful means without resorting to the threat or use of force.

Then in October, Vietnam established a CSP with France, making it the first European Union country to be accorded the highest level of partnership.

It is worth noting, however, that there is no universal international standard for how such diplomatic relationships are defined, with individual countries choosing how to determine them.

For instance, some countries and groupings may use similar terms without necessarily implying a tiered approach.

In October 2021, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) accorded CSP status to China and Australia, saying that the new partnerships should be “meaningful, substantive, and mutually beneficial”.

While a strategic partnership was understood to be the highest form of engagement between ASEAN and a dialogue partner prior to the CSP, ASEAN insisted that the new term does not confer a hierarchy of status.

“ASEAN was clear that the new coveted partnership title is a recognition of the depth and breadth of the dialogue relations and not an upgrade,” the CNA quoting Joanne Lin, coordinator of the ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, wrote in a February 2023 Fulcrum blog post as saying.

“As a new nomenclature, it makes little sense that the CSP does not denote an elevation of partnership. One can wonder what value it can bring to a dialogue partner if there is no differentiation in status.”

According to the Vietnam Briefing newspaper, the bilateral trade was in $14.69 billion in 2022.

The Vietnam Plus newspaper reported quoting data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, two-way trade reached US$10.63 billion in  the first nine months of 2024, representing a 14.1% increase year-on-year. 

According to The Straits Times newspaper, Vietnam has so far signed CSP with China, Russia, India, South Korea, the U.S., Japan, Australia and France. With Malaysia, Vietnam signed the CSPs with nine countries.

Malaysia needs Vietnam’s better military capabilities to counter Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, while Vietnam could tap into Malaysia’s geographical advantage at key routes in the same sea and the Strait of Malacca, an analyst said.

While both countries share a similar “policy dilemma” concerning China, Hanoi commands more “hard power deterrence” and is less dependent on Beijing for economic growth, Mr Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign affairs and security analyst at Universiti Malaya, told CNA.

On the other hand, Vietnam needs Malaysia’s geographical proximity to “key chokepoints” in the South China Sea and Malacca Strait, with a view towards developing deeper defence and security cooperation, said Chong, who has written commentaries about the two countries’ CSP.

Malaysia and Vietnam see the need to “strengthen political, economic and defence partnership in jointly responding to common threats, and in showing a renewed solidified front against external power pressure”, he added.

Both Vietnam and Malaysia continue to maintain lucrative economic ties with China even as they push back against Beijing’s maritime claims.

“The usage of ‘bamboo diplomacy’ has also ensured that Vietnam continues to maintain a balanced approach and in advocating for peace and stability with different powers,” said Mr Chong, referring to Hanoi’s strategy of flexibility when balancing competing geopolitical interests.

“This concept aligns well with Malaysia’s long-held diplomatic position and reach of non-alignment, and the mantra of peaceful co-existence in preventing conflicts and threats through diplomatic approach.”

Malaysia remains an important trading partner for Vietnam, and more pertinently will be ASEAN chair in 2025, the analyst highlighted.

The CSP with Malaysia would benefit a Vietnam a lot in many aspects.