Post-election 2020: Former Hanoi Ambassador Explains The Dispute And Predictions To Vietnam

The US presidential election with ongoing disputes and challenges has a direct impact on the ability to resolve America’s domestic and diplomatic problems in the present and future, including relations. America: Vietnam, from the perspective of a researcher, former Hanoi Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs official.

Speaking to BBC News in Vietnamese on November 12 from the Institute for Development Studies (VIDS), Dr. Dinh Hoang Thang, former Vietnam ambassador to the Netherlands, first commented on the challenges that await people. will be the head of the White House on the date of the oath 20/01/2021, regardless of who it is, if you look from now.

“On the domestic front, every man who comes up needs to worry about dealing with Covid, unemployment, and pending economic problems. But perhaps the urgent request is to heal the division in American society. It is no coincidence that Acting Secretary of Defense Miller has been appointed director of the National Counterterrorism Center of the United States.

“In foreign affairs, if Trump is re-elected, the current big moves, especially the Indo-Pacific strategy, will continue. If Mr. Joe Biden wins, foreign policy in general, especially US-China relations and relations With traditional allies in particular, they certainly have a fit.

“There may be some changes in some international institutions that Trump has previously ignored. For the Greater East Asia region, Mr. Biden will have a ton of jobs, from the” Blue Dot Network “floor co-initiated by the US, Japan and Australia) is late and underdeveloped to deal with China’s BRI (New Silk Road) worth trillions of dollars. “

Faced with the issue of the controversy over the electoral results and the post-election legal challenge that shows what the president of the United States is going to show, what it is likely to lead and what are the main consequences for the transition process. power, Dr. Dinh Hoang Thang replied:

If Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s recent statement “would have a smooth transition to the second Trump administration” comes to fruition, the story of the post-election legal challenge could tell.

“First, this is a long-standing story about American values. If Biden wins, it is because the American people have not accepted dictator Trump, the American tradition is an anti-dictator, regardless of his achievements in the last four years. A recent Reuters poll showed that nearly 80% of Americans believe that Biden has been elected.

“Second, if the lawsuits reverse the results of the vote count and Donald Trump is still seated, then it is the story of the rule of law. When there is a legal dispute, the evidence is compelling and decisive. The end of the Court is the standard to bind the parties to comply Third, no matter how intense the post-election legal challenge, the parties still find a brake, for the good of America, national solidarity First, the sovereignty of the people will be respected in the Constitution. Ultimately, American voters will be the winners, whether Democrats or Republicans take the president’s seat. “

Regarding relations between the United States and Vietnam, when asked what American policy will be like, what is new, different or not, former Ambassador Dinh Hoang Thang replied:

“The Vietnam-US relationship, in my opinion, has been placed on a pretty solid ‘track’. It is reflected in many assertions by heads of state between the two countries over the last decade, based on strategic interests. This is one factor. constant, not easy to turn upside down Close to election day, the US Secretary of State still meets with Vietnamese leaders is the most obvious demonstration. What is the difference between the new president’s books and what What’s worth mentioning? If Donald Trump is in office, then Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is the first ASEAN head of government to meet Trump when he was elected in 2016.

“As for Mr. Biden, will he speed up the process of ‘clearing the fog’ to ‘clearing the clouds in the sky’ like when he passed the message to TBT Nguyen Phu Trong? It’s a variable factor. Still to wait The main one The problem is the internal strength and courage of Vietnam, if Vietnam connects with the region and actively adapts to the new context, the relationship will be strong.

“Earlier this week, when telling the ambassadors before leaving, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc recalled: Vietnam is not choosing sides. But the” side “is changing strongly.” Party “is not only” now “. Country”, but the other side is “trend”. That is, choosing between a tendency of the Order based on rules, universal values, and “the other side” is the hegemonic Order and the tribute, then all the weak Vietnam must choose the “side” of civilized humanity to which it points.

Recently, a fact that has concerned Vietnam and observers is that Vietnam has been accused by the US government of “manipulating the exchange rate” of the Vietnamese currency, which is detrimental to US trade and the economy.

When asked if the United States government during the term of the White House chief who came here after taking office on January 20, 2021) has sanctioned Vietnam or has any other punitive action, Dinh Hoang Thang replied . :

“The answer has two sides. The first, in fact, does Vietnam manipulate the currency? The governor of the Bank of Vietnam at the time of Vietnam was accused like this recently and before:” The State Bank has not used and will never use a monetary policy tool such as the exchange rate to create an unfair competitive advantage in commercial and international transactions “.

“However, since the end of last year, the US government has put Vietnam on the” watch list “for currency manipulation. And since the beginning of October this year 2020, the US has opened a supply inquiry How to trade in Vietnam If this step can lead to an increase in the tax rate on the import of Vietnamese products, the two parties are still communicating to clarify the roadmap.

“As for the second part, will you sanction or punish Vietnam during the term of the head of the White House during the term of the White House? In case Donald Trump is still in position, the probability of sanction seems higher. Thao The “non-market” exchange rate crisis is a great story for the United States and Trump is likely to fight unfair trade practices, causing damage to American businesses and farmers.

“In the event that Mr. Biden enters the White House after January 20 of next year and by then the results of the Vietnam rape investigation or are unclear, then the punishment story may not happen. right away. Still depends on two lawsuits. First, how big is the damage to the US Really? Vietnamese goods only account for 3% of the total value of US imports (last year). US companies Vietnam’s “original” products contain only low-value agricultural products and food.

“So despite the disparity in the trade balance, Vietnam does not do much harm. Punishing Vietnam for the trade gap is, in a sense, the United States’ way of responding to the self-created situation.” This is the opinion of some experts. Second, what priority will the new president emphasize in relations with Vietnam, pure economic interests or higher priority for strategic intentions? The US Department of Commerce and Finance relies on currency manipulation law to calculate sanctions, and Defense and Foreign Affairs may have different calculations. The State Department often prioritizes the role of Vietnam’s “emerging partner.” in the geopolitical landscape of the region, is it difficult to predict which “ears” the new president will hear?

Before the question of this US presidential election, whether Vietnam can learn or refer to something and, if so, what can be avoided or avoided, said Dr., former Ambassador Dinh Hoang Thang. :

“It amazes me that many older people, who have not paid much attention to politics in the past, have kept updating and researching. Even the women who lived on the hikes that we had the opportunity to have a picnic noticed. they follow the news and seem to support Trump (the naive old folks believe Mr. Trump will help Vietnam deal with China).

“The experience here is having an electoral system of how people see the meaning of the ballot. In other words, the ballot and the electoral system must reflect the supreme power of the people.

“In my opinion, administrators can mean several things: The first is that the legitimacy of the supreme leader, along with all elected officials, depends on the public trust in integrity. Secondly, voters mainly care which government is behind whom they vote for and what is the next government’s policy, does it meet their aspirations or not? problem.

“Third, if Mr. Trump or Mr. Biden becomes president, the next term is the time of the most powerful left-right polarization in the history of the United States and the world. If America falls into chaos, authoritarian states. can take the throne and fourth, the final conclusion is in which country people are honest, knowledgeable, that country will flourish. On the contrary, where people do not have economic and political enlightenment, just worry In the material dispute, that country will perish, “Mr. Dinh Hoang Thang told BBC News Vietnamese on 11/12/2020 from Hanoi.