Why Vietnam’s silence on South China Sea row with Malaysia is a ‘nuanced diplomatic gesture’

Vietnam’s continued silence on a complaint from Malaysia over a disputed reef expansion in the South China Sea reflects a careful diplomatic strategy to avoid “jeopardising” its relationship with its neighbour, analysts say, as divisions within Asean give China an advantage in stalling regional agreements.

On Tuesday, reports emerged that Malaysia had sent a complaint letter to Vietnam over its alleged expansion of a South China Sea reef that both countries claim as their own, in a rare bilateral escalation not involving China.

Malaysia’s letter was sent to Vietnam’s foreign ministry in early October but had so far received no reply, two officials told Reuters.

In May, a Chinese think tank claimed that Vietnam had reclaimed more land in the South China Sea in the past three years than in the previous four decades, warning that the activity could “complicate and expand” disputes in the waters.

The Beijing-based Grandview Institution said Hanoi’s expansion had added 3 sq km (741 acres) of new land to the original 0.7 sq km on the features.

Abdul Rahman Yaacob, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute’s Southeast Asia programme, said there could be many factors for Vietnam’s delay in replying, as it might want to wait until the outcome of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to China this week.