At the opening of a conference on Chinese politics in Hanoi late last year, the Vietnamese host was quick to reassure the delegates. "Talking about a country's political system," she said, "is not the same as interfering in a country's political system."
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves to attendees of the ASEAN-China Special Summit via video link from Beijing in November 2021. © Xinhua/AP
The Big Story
China's grip on Southeast Asia tightens as U.S. influence wanes
From Vietnam to Indonesia, development aid and 'Asian values' drive Beijing's dominance
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