Why China’s Training Center in Laos Will Not Change Vietnam’s Non-Aligned Foreign Policy
China announced the opening of a Joint Logistics and Training Center to train air force pilots in Ban Keun, Laos. Vietnam has not commented on the new base at Ban Keun, but Prime Minister Le Minh Hung just concluded a visit to Laos and Cambodia, with Laos as his first official visit since assuming the prime ministerial post in April. The article argues that Vietnam will stick to its non-aligned foreign policy to maintain its goal of keeping Laos and Cambodia neutral.
Why it matters: The development matters for the theme of security because China's joint training centers in Laos and Cambodia test the post-1991 status quo and Vietnam's non-aligned foreign policy.