[chaostheory]

Breaking and continually flouting international law and the de facto naval boundaries accepted by literally every other country in the world is not a small thing. Until that unreasonable position changes, it is completely irredeemable. For the record, China is making the rest of South East Asia suffer here, and not the US. This is one of many reasons why Vietnamese and US relations are stronger than ever. China is the aggressor here. it’s delusional to say otherwise.

[FooBarWidget]

> This is one of many reasons why Vietnamese and US relations are stronger than ever.

Let's say that even this reading is heavily disputed. I don't think the Director of the Global South Program at the Quincy Institute, and member of the adjunct faculty at George Washington University, is as "delusional" as you think. https://responsiblestatecraft.org/biden-vietnam/

[chaostheory]

The 4 no’s doesn’t counter my point. Just because Vietnam won’t openly side with one nation doesn’t mean that Vietnam doesn’t hate China. It also doesn’t mean that they will not take steps to counter China. It will just be a more subtle response.

[FooBarWidget]

Whether Vietnam hates China or takes steps against China isn't even my point. Two things can be true at the same time: they can hate China, and it still isn't a simple "only China is at fault here and everyone wants to fight this evil" story. Whether Vietnam do or do not hate China, in no way invalidates my actual point that insisting on a one-sided manner is harmful rather than helpful for peace.