Abstract
Reena Marwah and Lê Thi. Ha̐ng Nga. India–Vietnam Relations: Development Dynamics and Strategic Alignment (Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, Springer Series in Dynamics of Asian Development, 2023), pp. 199, €109.99, ISBN: 9789811678219 (Hardcover); €93.08, ISBN: 9789811678226 (ebook).
India–Vietnam Relations: Development Dynamics and Strategic Alignment presents a comprehensive examination of the intricate and multifaceted relationship between India and Vietnam. By adopting a holistic approach, the book meticulously dissects various dimensions of the partnership that binds these two nations. It achieves this by closely scrutinising pivotal moments in their historical and contemporary interactions, revealing the underlying complexities that have shaped their connection. The authors have explored an extensive range of critical topics, encompassing political and diplomatic cooperation, economic interdependencies, collaborative endeavours in energy-related ventures and developmental initiatives. Through this comprehensive analysis, the book offers valuable insights into their shared objectives while subjecting these endeavours to rigorous critical assessment, considering their effectiveness and sustainability. Furthermore, the authors engage in a critical evaluation of India–Vietnam collaboration in defence and security realms, providing a nuanced understanding of the strategic implications of their alliance.
The first set of chapters critically examines the historical, cultural and diplomatic dimensions of India–Vietnam relations. Through a thorough exploration of their profound cultural bonds, intertwined religious heritage, significant archaeological and architectural landmarks, these chapters offer a comprehensive and critical perspective on the historical and cultural foundations that have fortified the India–Vietnam relationship. The subsequent chapters shift their focus towards foreign policies, economic interactions, scientific advancements and regional collaborations. These sections offer in-depth analyses of India and Vietnam’s foreign policy approaches, with a specific emphasis on India’s pivotal role in Vietnam’s foreign strategy and Vietnam’s contributions to India’s Look East and Act East Policy. While looking into economic relations, the authors have also paid considerable attention to explaining China’s significant role as a major investor in both nations. Chapter 5 underscores the steadfast commitment of India and Vietnam to progress in science, technology and innovative research and development. This chapter, while crucial, warrants a more critical examination to assess the depth and effectiveness of their collaborative efforts in these areas.
The following two chapters form the crux of the study. Chapter 6 underscores the importance of collaboration through multilateral institutions and explores the potential for a partnership among Japan, India and Vietnam in response to changing dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region. The proposal entails Japan investing, India serving as a market and Vietnam providing the venue for the investments. While Chapter 7 addresses the challenges posed by China in strategic and security cooperation between the two countries, it examines China’s Belt and Road initiative in proximity to India and the ongoing territorial conflicts in the South China Sea. This is particularly important in relation to China’s 1992 legislation, which establishes its sovereignty over all islands in the South China Sea, and has been a concern for Vietnam as it clashes with China’s proprietorship of the Paracel and Spratly Islands. More recently, China has also significantly increased its political assertiveness and military build-up in the region and maintains an ambiguous stance on peacefully resolving territorial conflicts in the South China and East China Seas. The chapter underscores India and Vietnam’s difficulties and strains as they manage their connections with China, a vital regional actor.
This scrutiny offers valuable insights into the broader geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific, explaining how China’s inclination to establish regulations and exert pressure on other nations unilaterally has prompted increased interactions among Vietnam, fellow ASEAN member states and India. It comprehensively explains these intricate dynamics and their implications for the region’s geopolitics and security. The conclusion chapter takes a forward-looking perspective, considering future developments in India–Vietnam relations and opportunities for collaboration across various trilateral or minilateral domains.
The multifaceted relationship between India and Vietnam has been analysed comprehensively by exploring their diplomatic strategies, economic partnerships and regional involvements, providing an in-depth overview of the multilayered relationship enriched with historical context, cultural insights, economic analysis and geopolitical considerations. To augment its insights, it draws extensively from varied sources, including interviews with current and former ambassadors, diplomatic professionals and professors from India and Vietnam, enriching the narrative with first-hand accounts and diverse viewpoints. In recent academic studies, analyses of India–Vietnam relationship have often been confined to singular viewpoints, either concentrating on diplomatic and geostrategic factors or delving solely into cultural and historical aspects. This book endeavours to transcend these isolated perspectives and offer a holistic portrayal of the evolution of India–Vietnam relations by interconnecting the historical underpinnings, modern-day developmental dynamics and strategic configurations.
A significant highlight is the detailed study of the trilateral relationship between India, China and Vietnam, offering insights into the complexities that define their interactions. Against the backdrop of a dynamically changing Asia-Pacific region characterised by China’s burgeoning influence and perceived waning of US power, the book critically assesses the imperative for India and Vietnam to strengthen their defence capabilities and assume more prominent roles as potential counterweights in the region to any significant shifts in power dynamics. The authors also propose a collaborative approach involving India, Vietnam, Japan, the ASEAN regional forum and other key nations in the Asia-Pacific region to push China towards greater transparency in its military activities and adherence to established international norms and standards of conduct. However, the active participation of all regional stakeholders faces challenges such as domestic unrest, economic stagnation and complex bilateral relations among certain countries, rendering the prospects for comprehensive cooperation somewhat uncertain and challenging.
A central theme explored in the book revolves around development dynamics and underscores the critical importance of India and Vietnam capitalising on emerging economic opportunities. This entails a strategic adjustment of their industrial policies and active efforts to attract investors. The authors have presented an extensive analysis of various dimensions of economic activities, including foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), trade agreements and supply chain dynamics and regional and global integration, offering a comprehensive view of the evolving economic landscape. A comparative analysis of import and export data for the two countries from the pandemic period has also been presented. Although, for a more contemporary understanding of the economic aspects, future projects by authors could explore the transformative economic dynamics between these two nations, with an emphasis on analysing both pre-pandemic and post-pandemic economic changes.
In conclusion, the book succeeds in offering a detailed examination of the evolving dynamics between India and Vietnam in the framework of modern geopolitics. It not only enhances our understanding of the past and present interactions of India and Vietnam but also provides valuable foresight into the potential trajectory of this pivotal partnership. As a result, it stands as an exemplary resource for those interested in conducting further research on Indo–Vietnam relations, diplomatic history and strategic alliances and networks.