Recently, Vietnam has requested China to transfer power technology and share its experience in the electricity sector. This news quickly attracted widespread attention in the international community.
Why is Vietnam showing such strong interest in China's power technology? How should China respond to this request?
The fundamental reason for Vietnam's interest in obtaining China's power technology lies in its long-standing issue of insufficient power supply.
In recent years, with the shift of mid-to-low-end industries to Southeast Asia, Vietnam's economy has developed rapidly, leading to a massive demand for electricity. Additionally, the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization has significantly increased the demand for industrial and residential electricity.
According to data from the Vietnam Electricity Group, the annual growth rate of Vietnam's electricity demand has reached an astonishing 10%.
However, Vietnam's power infrastructure has failed to keep pace with this growth, resulting in increasingly severe power shortages.
Insufficient power supply not only affects the daily lives of the population but also poses significant obstacles to Vietnam's industrial development.
Especially during the summer peak electricity demand periods, some factories in Vietnam have to reduce production or even halt operations, which is a significant blow to the country's development.
Electricity is the lifeblood of modern industry, and as an ambitious developing country, Vietnam does not want to rely on another nation for this crucial resource.
Although buying electricity from China can temporarily meet its needs, Vietnam hopes to acquire China's power technology to gain self-sufficiency.
Furthermore, China, as the world's largest power producer and a leader in clean energy technology, is seen as an ideal partner for Vietnam due to its advanced experience in the power sector.
How should China respond to Vietnam's request?
This situation presents both opportunities and challenges.
Strengthening power cooperation with Vietnam can benefit Chinese industries invested in Vietnam, primarily through electricity sales.
However, when it comes to technology transfer, China needs to consider several factors carefully.
Firstly, China's power technology results from years of independent research and significant investment, representing a crucial national asset.
From an economic standpoint, it is not easy to justify transferring these technologies to Vietnam.
Secondly, there are numerous frictions between China and Vietnam, particularly regarding the South China Sea, where Vietnam still occupies some of China's reefs.
Recently, China announced the baselines for its territorial waters in the Beibu Gulf, a move that Vietnam protested, demanding adherence to a previous delimitation agreement between the two countries.
Therefore, from a geopolitical perspective, China must be cautious in transferring power technology to Vietnam.
In summary, Vietnam's request for China's support in power technology highlights its struggles with power supply and industrial development.
In responding to this request, China needs to weigh the pros and cons, considering both the economic benefits of cooperation with Vietnam and the complex political and strategic relationship between the two countries.
Technology transfer involves core national interests and should not be undertaken lightly.
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