MR. ERNESTO BRAAM TALKS ABOUT GEOPOLITICAL RIVALRY AMONG THE US, CHINA AND JAPAN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

On November 16, 2016, the Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies had a great honor to welcome Mr. Ernesto H. Braam LL.M., Regional Strategic Advisor for Southeast Asia at the Dutch Embassy in Singapore; Mr. Simon van der Burg, Consul General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Vo Tran Nhan Trung, lecturer at the Faculty of International Relations and its students at the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Mr. Ernesto Braam’s talk about “Geopolitical rivalry the US, China and Japan in Southeast Asia” took place in a lively atmosphere. He first made a brief analysis of realism and liberalism. The speaker emphasized that the geopolitical issues among great powers are the representation of realism.

Next, he had a short description of the diplomatic relations among the US, China and Japan as well as doing an in-depth analysis of viewpoints and policies proposed by three leaders: Donald Trump (The US President-elect), Xi Jinping (General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, President of the People’s Republic of China) and Abe Shinzo (Prime Minister of Japan).

Mr. Ernesto had a talk to students of the Faculty of International Relations.

According to Mr. Ernesto, Donald Trump’s policies have remained a big question so far, such as whether Trump decides to continue the “pivot to Asia strategy” or leave Asia, whether TPP would be implemented, and whether goods imported from China would be taxed at 45% or not.

However, the speaker optimistically thought that American consultants who work with the new President will provide him with sound advice and policies so that the US soft power will still be on the right track. He also made some comments on the issue of union among the ASEAN countries and their role in geopolitical rivalry among great powers. Given the changing period of the geopolitics, he took Singapore as an example to provide advice for Vietnam on how to maintain the stable, peaceful relationships and connections.

At the end of the talk, Mr. Ernesto was willing to answer the questions raised by the participant lecturers and students. In addition, Mr. Simon van der Burg introduced some information about studying abroad and wished to provide more consultation for students who are interested in studying in the Netherlands at the Consulate General of the Netherlands at 29 Le Duan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Simon (mid) gave a brief introduction to studying abroad in the Netherlands.

Dr. Tran Dinh Lam presented flowers to Mr. Ernesto.

Guests and students took a picture as a memento.

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