China and Vietnam are longstanding rivals in the region, and have been at each other’s throats for decades over resource rich waters in the South China Sea. Skirmishes, war and terrifying violence has made up much of the countries’ previous relations, and as this political fallout continues, some experts fear it could once more become a major flashpoint. One expert told Express.co.uk: “I think Vietnam are definitely the ones to watch, they are extremely aware of the threat that they feel from China, and this is not a soft military.

“They are not going to be pushed back into a corner, compromise or lie down if they feel China is pushing against them they will hit back, and they will assert their interest.

“And that’s where you can see things escalating because these two are not easily going to retreat, they are too proud to do that, that’s the most problematic relationship I think.”

In recent years, disputes have generally focused on Chinese vessels entering Vietnam’s economic exclusion zone.

Last month, a Chinese oil survey vessel – The Haiyang Dizhi 8 – had been embroiled in a tense standoff with Vietnamese vessels in the South China Sea, but left Vietnamese-controlled waters on Thursday after more than three months, marine data showed.

The Vietnamese also fought China in a deadly war in 1979 and, in 1988, a skirmish saw 64 Vietnam soldiers killed by Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army.

Professor Kerry Brown, an expert in Asian geopolitics, added: “Vietnam is a really key issue because the Vietnamese are tough warriors, they fought off the Americans, they fought off the Chinese in 1979 and briefly in 1985. So they are not to be taken lightly.

“The Vietnamese also operate in a fairly large space and in a very similar way to China, which is one of China’s main complaints.

“Other nations like Malaysia and the Philippines in the Southeast China Sea are less problematic to China, largely because they are a bit more remote and not as formidable.

“I think for China and Vietnam they also have many years of being at each other’s throats so this is just the latest in a long story.”

Despite the determination of both countries, Professor Brown of Chatham House highlights that violence is something neither side wants.

He added: “I don’t think they will undertake any military action unnecessarily, they are good warriors because they don’t fight battles they don’t need to, but they will fight battles if they have to, that’s the difference.

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“The Vietnamese within living memory had a terrifying war with the US, so they are absolutely aware of how undesirable it would be to fight but they also have clear red lines.”

Diplomatic relations between the US and Vietnam are set to improve after the White House’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed regret over Washington’s lack of support for Hanoi.

Pompeo said last week: “We hesitated and did far less than we should have when China threatened its neighbors like Vietnam, and the Philippines, and when they claimed the entire South China Sea.”

With the US throwing its weight behind Vietnam, Hanoi may feel more emboldened as China’s aggressive strategy continues.

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