TTLA: China - Laos relations from 2000 to present

Author name: Tran Thi Hai Yen

Thesis title: China - Laos relations from 2000 to present

Dissertation field: International Studies

Major: International Relations Code: 62 31 02 06

Name of the postgraduate training unit: University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

1. Purpose and target audiencethesis research

- Purpose: To clarify the nature of the China-Laos relationship to see the strategic calculations of the two countries in increasing the relationship, and at the same time clarify China's strategy towards small, developing countries through the case of Laos.

- Subject: The process of China - Laos relations

2. Research methods used

Methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison; method of foreign policy analysis; method of observation; method of document research; method of comparison; method of impact analysis; historical method; systematic method.

3. Main results and conclusions

3.1. Main results

- Provide a theoretical framework for the study of big-small country relations. The China-Laos relationship has clearly demonstrated the characteristics of an asymmetrical relationship, with China being proactive and Laos being passive and being dominated.

- After nearly 30 years of normalization of relations, China-Laos relations have made remarkable progress in all fields, and have especially made a leap forward since 2000. In this relationship, economy is considered an effective tool, politics is considered the goal and security - defense, culture - society are indispensable supplements. Therefore, economy is considered the most prominent area of ​​cooperation in China-Laos relations. From here, China and Laos have the basis to increase comprehensive relations in other fields.

- The China-Laos relationship has had certain impacts on related factors. China seems to be the factor that receives the most positive impacts in this relationship such as: expanding the space of influence, multiplying economic benefits, and creating the image of a responsible big country. However, this country also has to face Laos' "suspicion", affecting the strategic trust between the two sides. For Laos, besides positive impacts such as economic development opportunities and increased geopolitical resources, this country is facing serious consequences from the process of dependence on China. The ecological environment, depleted resources, public opposition, and especially the risk of political dependence are challenges for Laos in its relationship with China.

- Although the China-Laos relationship contains the above-mentioned knots, with the increasingly deepening relationship of China, Laos cannot avoid the "attraction" of this regional power. Therefore, in the future, the China-Laos relationship will be able to develop further. Politically, China will try to intervene more deeply in the internal political affairs and control the foreign affairs of Laos. From there, gradually bring Laos into the "Beijing consensus circle", becoming an important factor that can help China divide ASEAN solidarity and control this region according to its influence.

- For Vietnam, the progress in China-Laos relations, specifically the increasing influence of China in Laos, is posing challenges for Vietnam and the special Vietnam-Laos relationship. The risk of eroding the traditional Vietnam-Laos relationship, the risk of border security and territorial integrity of Vietnam is also facing challenges as the Chinese wave is increasingly spreading and becoming stronger in Laos. All of these require a more proactive and positive role for Vietnam in relations with Laos, relations with China and relations with the region to minimize possible risks.

3.2. Conclusion

China-Laos relations have developed strongly since 2000. Starting from focusing on the economic field, China-Laos relations have now expanded in all fields. The relationship between the two countries has been upgraded to a “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership” since 2009 and is expected to continue to strengthen in the coming time. With an asymmetrical relationship, China plays a proactive role in the relationship with Laos, while Laos has also taken advantage of China’s strong resources to develop the country. However, with the consequences that Laos is facing, the country faces challenges in handling its relationship with China to avoid falling into political dependence on a regional power – China.    

SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS

The author's name: Tran Thi Hai Yen

Thesis title: China – Laos relationship from 2000s to present

Scientific branch of the thesis: International Studies

Major: International Relations Code: 62 31 02 06

The name of postgraduate training institution: University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University in Hanoi

1. Thesis purpose and objectives

- Purpose: To clarify the China-Laos relations in order to see the purpose of the two countries in terms of increasing their relations and clarify China's strategy to small, developing countries, case study - Laos.

- Objectives: The process of China-Laos relations

2. Research methods

Data collection and analysis, foreign policy analysis method, historical analysis, comparative method.

3. Major results and conclusions

3.1.The major results

- Provide a theoretical framework for the study of big country and small country relations. The relations between China and Laos clearly show the characteristics of an asymmetric relationship.

- Over the past 30 years of normalization of relations, the relations between China and Laos have made remarkable progress in all fields, especially from 2000s to present. In this, economics is considered as an effective tool, and politics as a goal and security - defense relationship, culture - society is an indispensable addition. Therefore, the economy is considered as the most prominent field in the relations between China and Laos. From here, China and Laos have a basis for increasing comprehensive relations in other fields.

- Sino-Lao relations have had some impact on the relevant factors. China seems to be the factor that has made the most positive impact in this relationship: expanding the influence, widening economic interests, creating a responsible image. However, the country is also facing the "suspicion" of Laos, affecting strategic trust between the two sides. For Laos, besides the positive effects of economic development, geopolitical gains, the country is facing serious consequences from its dependence on China. The ecological environment, the depletion of resources, the opposition of the people, and especially the risk of political dependence are the challenges posed to Laos in the relation with China.

- In the future, Sino-Lao relations will be able to be further developed. China will step by step put Laos into the “Beijing consensus”, become an important factor that can help China break the ASEAN unity and dominate the region by its influence.

- For Vietnam, the evolution of China-Laos relations, in particular the increasing influence of China in Laos, poses challenges for Vietnam and for the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos. All of this requires a more proactive and active role for Vietnam in its relations with Laos and with China in order to minimize the potential risks.

3.2.Conclusions

- The relationship between China and Laos has been developed since 2000. Starting from a focus on the economic field, the current China-Laos relations have expanded in all areas. The relationship between the two countries has been upgraded to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” since 2009 and tends to continue to tighten relations in the coming years. With an asymmetrical relationship, China takes an active role in its relationship with Laos, and Laos has also enlisted China's strong resources to develop the country. However, with the implications that Laos is facing, it faces challenges in dealing with its relationship with China in order to avoid falling into the political dependence of a regional power - China.