The Philippines, Vietnam Discuss on SpratlysFebruary 22, 2012 (Vietnamica) — The Philippines and Vietnam on Feb. 20 discussed “cooperative actions” in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) during the inaugural meeting of the two countries’ Joint Commission on Maritime and Ocean Cooperation (JCMOC) (Inquirer, Feb. 22).
Feb 17, 2012 (Reuters) — Singapore hosted military brass from across Asia this week at the region’s biggest arms and aerospace bazaar, almost 70 years to the day since it fell to Japanese forces sweeping across Southeast Asia during World War Two.
Vietnam’s Agricultural Commodities in 2011January 10, 2012 (Vietnamica) — According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2011, exports of forestry, aquaculture, and agriculture products yielded a turnover of US$25 billion, an increase of US$5 billion over 2010. The agriculture, forestry and seafood sector gained a trade surplus of US$9 billion, successfully opened new export markets, and enjoyed a year-on-year increase of 27 percent (VNS, Jan. 4).
January 8, 2012 (Vietnamica) — Vietnam has lowered floor prices for its rice exports, easing the minimum price for the benchmark 5 percent broken grain by 3 percent to US$485 a tonne, but traders said Vietnamese prices are still uncompetitive compared with those of India. India’s common white rice grades were quoted this week at $415-$435 a ton (FOB), down from US$430 to US$450 late December (Reuters, Jan. 8).
South China Sea: China, India and VietnamOctober 16, 2011 (Vietnamica) – The China Energy News – published by Communist Party mouthpiece the People’s Daily – said on Oct 16 that India is playing with fire by agreeing to explore for oil with Vietnam in the disputed South China Sea (Reuters, Oct 16).
Vietnam, China: Economic Prosperity Leads to Heightened TensionsOctober 10, 2011 (Vietnamica) — While China’s economic ascendency has been well documented, Beijing’s longtime regional competitor, Vietnam, is steadily growing in economic and political relevance in the region, due in no small part to its economic ties to the Chinese. Historically, China has been the more powerful of the two, seeking to contain its neighbor to the south. As their economies continue to prosper, they will attempt to extend their influence in the region, but because of their geographic proximity — and because the areas they seek to influence overlap — Beijing and Hanoi will maintain a state...
