August 29, 2017

Vietnam and Spanish oil giant Repsol suspended their gas-drilling in the South China Sea in July after China's intervention. Some Westerners expressed their disappointment at the peaceful resolution of the issue. The Washington Post mocked Hanoi for "putting economic cooperation or alleged communist solidarity above questions of national pride."

"With Vietnam's closed political system keeping diplomatic machinations a secret, most people - even experts, by their own admission - simply don't know what's happening, providing the perfect atmosphere for wild speculation," the Washington Post claimed.

It also blamed "a visibly diminished US presence for giving Beijing an opportunity to act behind the scenes," adding that of the 10 countries in ASEAN drifting "in a pro-China direction" since US President Donald Trump assumed office, "Vietnam is the last member openly pushing for a tougher stance on China's expansion in the South China Sea," but "is now publicly isolated on the issue of using international law to push back against China."

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http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1063676.shtml

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