J

uly 18, p. 7

Demonstrations in Hanoi against China ended when the Vietnamese government finally acted on July 10 to round up protesters.

The rare public protests, held every weekend for over a month in front of the Chinese Embassy, employed nationalistic slogans and symbols. Thought to have been officially tolerated, or even encouraged, they started soon after China’s navy turned back a Vietnamese oil-drilling research boat in a disputed area of the South China Seas. (By Simon Tay, Singapore)

Your comments:

China is an unreliable trading partner/supplier for Vietnam and almost as good as Australia toward Indonesia for livestock. Both are unreliable suppliers in their own areas.

Neni
Indonesia

One must face reality. Which ASEAN country can maintain growth if it decides not to trade with China?

Does one know that much of the electricity that powers Vietnam’s growth comes from China? What will happen if China follows Saudi Arabia’s example to ban Filipino maids from HK, Macau and China? Stay calm.

Fairdinkum
Australia

Since 2008, the electricity from China has accounted for 4 percent of the total consumption in Vietnam.

This is the main source of electricity supply to 12 northern provinces, consisting of Thai Nguyen; Cao Bang; Bac Kan; Phu Tho; Vinh Phuc; Son La; Dien Bien; Lao Cai; Lai Chau; Yen Bai; Ha Giang; and Tuyen Quang ... Since the rainy season started, there is more than enough water going into catchment areas, which would provide plenty of material for hydro-electric power plants that could supply the rest
of country.

Trunh
Hanoi

ASEAN is currently building an ASEAN power grid to prevent exactly what you said about China directly supplying electricity to Vietnam.

All the steps are in place and many major power plants are being built or have already been built through out the ASEAN region.

Nara
Balikpapan

We need to look at trade numbers between each individual ASEAN country with China; some trade takes place where China is the biggest trading partner, whereas for others, China doesn’t even make it into the top five of trading partners. I believe it’s more about how fast Japan can recover [after the tsunami] to dilute Chinese
influence.

To Australia, China is the biggest customer for mining products but not the biggest trading partner. I would say Indonesia should keep China, not as the biggest trading partner, although within the top 10, while continuing to improve all trades and deals with the US, Japan, and Europe, which will give us far more in terms of knowledge and technology transfer.

Lemon
Jakarta