Trong, Vietnam’s Longstanding Communist Leader, Passes Away; To Lam Steps Up as New Leader

Vietnam’s leader and general secretary ruling communist party, Nguyen Phu Trong, passed away on July 19 at the age of 80. President To Lam has assumed his position.

The Central Committee of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party released an obituary on Friday announcing Trong’s death, citing “old age and serious illness” as the cause. However, no details about Trong’s specific illness were disclosed by Vietnamese officials.

Trong had held the position of general secretary of the Communist Party in the one-party authoritarian state since 2011, making him the country’s top leader. He also served as the President of Vietnam from 2018 to 2020.

Throughout his tenure, Vietnam practiced a form of diplomacy known as “bamboo diplomacy,” maintaining a delicate balance between the United States and China. Trong advocated for a diplomacy strategy of “more friends, fewer foes.”

In recent diplomatic developments, U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Hanoi in September elevated Vietnam’s relations with the United States to a significant diplomatic level, alongside China, Russia, India, and South Korea. Additionally, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping visited Vietnam in December 2023 to strengthen ties, despite ongoing disputes over Chinese claims in the South China Sea. Vietnam also elevated Japan to a high diplomatic status and hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in June last year.

While Vietnam has implemented economic reforms since 1986, international human rights organizations have criticized Trong for overseeing crackdowns on dissidents, resulting in the imprisonment of activists, journalists, and social media commentators. Trong initiated anti-corruption campaigns within the party, similar to efforts by Xi in China, to suppress opposition figures, including former Vietnamese prime minister, president, and chairman of the national assembly Vo Van Thuong.

Opportunity for Transformation

Professor Feng Chongyi, specializing in China studies at the University of Technology Sydney, highlighted the historical divide between northern and southern factions in Vietnamese politics.

He remarked on the potential for further reform in Vietnam following Trong’s passing and the opportunity for the country to embrace openness and liberalization.

Successor to Lam

President To Lam assumed office in May, having previously served as Vietnam’s public security chief.

Professor Feng speculated on Lam’s political direction, predicting a move towards a more open and liberal stance, which could benefit Vietnam’s development and international relations.

Professor Sun Kuo-hsiang from Nanhua University in Taiwan expressed caution about Lam’s potential political trajectory, particularly considering Vietnam’s constitution, which mandates the ruling Communist Party’s dominance.