On the banks of the Mekong River in the heart of Laos’s capital city, Vientiane, stands a defiant Chao Anouvong, the Laotian king who fought the Thais almost 200 years ago, winning the hearts of his compatriots and the wretched anger of the royal regiments in Bangkok.
Cast in bronze, his statue was erected just two years ago. With his left hand clutching a sword, his right arm extended and pointing at the enemy across the river, the imposing figure has continued to irritate Thais who see the statue, at best, as contentious.
But the political realities are somewhat different these days. Relations between Thailand and Laos have never been better. Airports, roads, railways and dams are being built and Vientiane is increasingly dictating its own path in foreign relations, regardless of its traditional ties with Vietnam.
It’s a path that Hanoi should find increasingly irritating.
Construction continues by Thai companies at the site of the $3.8 billion Xayaburi Dam, which according to independent reports will put at risk food security by upsetting the spawning season of fish stocks that feed more than 60 million people down river in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Thai and Laos companies intend to split the profits by selling electricity produced from the dam back into Thailand and, according to one source with ties to the Laos government, “this is a win-win … and will enrich all Laos and enable it to prosper and be able to buy cars.”
There are also plans to build a high speed train, a line from Bangkok to Nong Khai, a short distance from the border and the Lao capital. The infrastructure needs are real but so are the costs to its traditional ties with Vietnam.
Importantly Laos also took quietly to the sidelines, alongside Thailand, at the recent summit of foreign ministers for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) when Vietnam saddled-up with The Philippines and desperately needed support for its stance over disputes in the South China Sea, with China.
Hanoi and Manila want a united multilateral stand by ASEAN countries with overlapping claims to islands in the disputed waters. China wants a bilateral approach, one that was pushed strongly by its chief ally within the bloc, Cambodia.
Cambodia’s is also ASEAN’s chair this year and used its position to thwart Vietnamese and Filipino ambitions. This came as no surprise given Cambodia’s foreign policy shifts and Chinese largesse of recent years.
But Hanoi would have appreciated Vientiane’s support at the summit given their traditional ties and the affiliations that came with the communist revolutions of the 1970s.
Vietnam has also been a major financial benefactor to Laos and provided its government with military support and diplomatic leverage on the international political stage when needed.
And Laos seems to have forgotten that Vietnam’s sovereign claims in the Parcel and Spratly islands along with food security and the free flow of the Mekong River are two of the most vital issues for the government of Nguyen Tan Dung.
Vietnam also has common sense and credible independent reports on its side. Vientiane and Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong might be unmoved by that and this could make his country’s blossoming relationship with Thailand all the more important.
But it risks being left out in the cold with Vietnam and that could herald another significant ruction in regional political affairs, one that ASEAN can ill-afford.
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swoosh
@Thanh, so you think vietnam should invade Laos and Cambodia just because of having independen foreign policy? do you think both of them are vietnam's vassals? The day vietnam invade both of them is the day vietnam cease to exist as a country.
Lao
Dear friends don't give any attention to what Thanh the immature arrogant vietnamese boy said. His comments and the language He used are not acceptable by the civilized people in 21st century.
Really?
Laos and Cambodia have open foreign policy and it's their right to establish a good relatioship with any country around the world.
hiep
When time pasts, past will be gradually forgotten. That is the case for both Cambodia and Laos toward Vietnam. But that's natural, everyone can expect that and Vietnamese is not an exception. Vietnamese is well aware that current and future interests of both Cambodia and Laos are much more important to these countries than the past. Continued strong co-operation with these two smaller countries on win-win principals will prevail the relationship between Vietnam and these two countries.
Sengto
Vietnam had 45+ years to help its neighbors Laos and Cambodia. But it just now that you see Vietnam is just sucking the living resources out of its neighbors and allies for their own benefit. You can see whos the agressor are and why Laos and Cambodia are slipping away from Vietnam lack of confident and suportive. It seems like China has given more helping hands to Laos then Vietnam in just a short period of times. Vietnam has always oppress Laos and the Lao ppl. Now it is time for Laos to stand up and revive the Lao people from this oppression.
Thanh
Don't be naive. Power politics and national interest will always clash with neighboring countries. Vietnam threatens its smaller neighbors just like China threatens its smaller neighbors. Whether such is morally right is another question, but one needs to recognize that in a world with finite resources – conflict and struggle is a part of reality. Big nations are always an imposing presence on smaller ones – that's why a system of alliances have long existed since the Caveman – tribal ages where opposing tribes set up alliances up until the 20th century's world wars. For what you believe is yours, you must fight for it. Perhaps not my sheer brute force, but by clever strategy or having many allies. EXAMPLE: From Petro, water, land, that countries compete for … to your daily things that you as an individual fight for like a finite number of available employment positions, the girl/guy that you want to be with, etc…
bthemy
I like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to diplomat for having posted the comments I have written to support the construction of the hydroelectric dams on the Mekong that Laos would rely on to lift up itself from poverty. We the laotians were born poor and underdeveloped because of the long stupid war; we have has no time to developp the country. I personally am a private person and I don't work for the government of Laos but I feel I have the moral obligation to protect the national interests of Laos my native country. I have acceped that you check my clipboard against my principle because I need your assistance.
bthemy
Those same laothais from the right bank of the Mekong who got paid to protest against the hydroelectric dam that Laos is building within its territory used to shout across the Mekong to insult us of laotakhao and we shouted back to call them slave to Siamese’s. Right now the Lao Vientiane as they call us is proud to be Lao and live happily in its own country. But Isan is still the least developed area economically and socially in Thailand. The Isan peoples are still considered as non-educated second-class citizen by the siameses so my Isan brothers why are you so proud to be Thaïs and why insulting Laos is your hobby. You insult Laos is in fact insulting yourselves.
James the Australian
Have you heard of the Proximity Fear Factor?
It goes like this, if your neighbor is more powerful then you, you are scared and then to look for friends to allay your fears!
So Laos is fearful of a powerful Vietnam and is looking for Thailand and China for support.
Vietnam is worried about a powerful China, so is snuggingvup to the USA,despite the bitterness of the war between them that not long ago.
It is natural instinct to seek protection from a powerful distant friend when your immediate neighbor gets too powerful then you.
phetsakhat Sorphainam
Thai or siam should never get upset at laotianes because of chao Anouvon and all laotianes can do any thing on ttheir side and the lao sixiengmay can crash their teeths only . any way regarding to the relationship between vietnam and laos that vietnam have been helping laos ever since so they became 2 brothers after overthrown the king of laos and vietnam also had signed a defense contac with laos and PM thongsing is under vietnam's command thats mean siam can't threat laos any more and if you do, you ash out.
steve thornton
god luck to you and your country from a brutush supporter
Thanh
Even if Laos & Cambodia drift away, irritate and/or antagonize Vietnam. That may not be a bad thing for Vietnam. Their actions may lead to Vietnam invading and occupying them. Maybe it's intentional that conflicts arise between the neighbors so that it provokes Hanoi to take military action. It would give Hanoi a "justifiable" reason to attack (and conquer). If history tells us anything, the Vietnamese strategists in Hanoi are usually a step ahead and should not be underestimated.
Really?
Hello, my name is really! Thanh, little South Vietnamese children, need to stop talking big, but no action. We’re not in a cold war era any more. I don’t think you can invade sovereignty nations like Laos and Cambodia, just because they are not siding with you on the Parcel and Spratly islands dispute. If you don’t believe me, go ahead try! Be careful though, this is post-Cold War Era, where you don’t get a luxury of having China and the Soviet Union on your side. If Vietnam and Phillipine are so powerful, then they need to invade China.
How do you like my idea?
Thanh
I'm sure Hanoi in this present day has enough capability to defend itself. The USSR does not exist anymore but Russia does. Russia, India, Japan, the US and all the countries that want China to be defeated will line up to assist Vietnam in its struggle against the giant – whether overtly or covertly. Besides for 2,000 years Vietnam fought against China WITHOUT assistance of foreign powers. Brush up on your history.
Disclaimer
Hello ThanDungViet, It might be true that your VietnamDung had fought China for 2,000 years but it did not change the fact that all you Vietdungs were under Chinese control for 1000-2000 years.
Thanh
I concur with you about how in this day and age, no country can invade another sovereign country without international condemnation. Understood, and you know who also has understood this since the 1980's occupation of Cambodia? HANOI. That's why Hanoi has other strategies of conquest by other means than military. You know how many Viets now live in Laos & Cambodia? MANY. Peacefully, they can demand through political representation to secede from Laos or Cambodia and adjoin to and unite with Vietnam. Or if not peacefully, there's enough Viets to tear their countries apart through civil strife so that it invites Hanoi's military intervention. This time Hanoi is better prepared to stay in-trenched in Laos & Cambodia since Hanoi is now economically self-sufficient and has friends or at least have good relations with the US and has membership in ASEAN.
Really?
As a matter of fact: Vietnam is small, over populated, still poor and the nominal GDP is less than $2000, which is similar to many African countries. In the past, Vietnamese have fought eachothers, have a hardtime competing with Siam, Chinese and French ruled over your land. By getting crazy over Laos and Cambodia foreing policies would be your biggest mistake, instead of just dealing with China, now you have to deal with all of your neighbors. Good luck on that one! China is occupying Parcel and Spratly islands, but i don't see any action from Hanoi besides from whining.
Through out Vietnam history, she is good in defending her territory and not much else. The size of Vietnam today is slighly bigger than it was 1000 years ago. North Vietnam won the Vietnam War was mainly due to China and Soviet Union war materials support. There is no way NV can beat US and South Vietnamese govt with bows and arrows. With the current situation, you have no chance against China. Laos is continue building Sayabury dam, while Cambodia cozies up with China.
Facts are not on yourside, so just hold your horses.
Dave
@Thanh
Cambodia and Laos have relalised Vietnam 's true color and its ill intention towards its neighbors. The history has shown.
Vietnam's invasion of its neighbors? If Hanoi's strategists are idiotic enough , that would see the full scale of China's 2nd war, teaching Hanoi an unforgettable lesson, to be remembered for the next 1000 years.
Thanh
Vietnam always knows that wars with China is part of being its neighbor. They have fought for 2,000 years+ … and for the foreseeable future they will continue to fight. Vietnam is always conscious of this fact and is always ready to engage in combat with China. Remember the Viets held off the Chinese in the North while continued to expand southward to swallow Cham & Khmer & Lao lands.
Really?
The world is not evolved around Vietnam and you're not special. Korea, Burma, Japan, Mongolia, India were at war with China some point in time. Many kingdoms and empires were up against China, but at the end of the day, she is still going strong and 29 bigger than Vietnam.
2nd Vietnamese War
Don't be dumb Thanh. The Vietcongs of the 60 and 70s were battle harden troops fighting decades against the French, Japanese and Americans with the most advanced Soviet and Chinese arms. Vietnamese pilots flew the most advanced MIGS and gave the Americans a nose bleed even in the air. Your country now is a 3rd rate military power. Your troops are now soft from not fighting any wars in decades. Your military equipment is old and you no longer get free state of the art military equipment. You have a few modern arms but for the most part your troops are ill equiped. If Vietname invaded Laos or Cambodia it would be end of your communist regime. The UN Security Council will vote military action against you to repel the invasion. ASEAN would expel you if you were the aggressor as well. Finally thousand of American, Chinese French, Laotian and Cambodian troops would utterly destroy your country and send you back to the stone ages. Forget about invading other countries. It's suicide for your tiny country to harbor such thoughts.