The US discusses semiconductor cooperation with Vietnam

US and Vietnamese top diplomats discussed expanding semiconductor cooperation during Washington meeting in an effort to diversify partners in the indo-pacific.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son met in Washington on 25 March to discuss improving semiconductor collaboration and supply chain diversification, according to the State Department. The meeting builds on the momentum of US President Joe Biden’s September visit to Hanoi, during which an agreement to expand US-Vietnam relations was reached, indicating a deliberate attempt to mitigate China’s power in the Indo-Pacific.

The primary focus of the conversations was the United States’ goal to reduce its reliance on Chinese supply chains by boosting domestic manufacture and trade with dependable partners, particularly in the semiconductor industry, in order to manage risks associated with trade conflicts and tensions over Taiwan.

Furthermore, Blinken and Son investigated ways to expand their collaboration beyond economics, such as efforts in human rights, security, education, and cultural exchanges, underscoring the diverse nature of the US-Vietnam connection.

Despite this, Amnesty International and other rights organisations were critical of the United States for allegedly ignoring human rights issues, during Biden’s September visit. Biden responded to these charges by arguing that he raised the question of human rights during his discussions with Vietnamese authorities.