Vietnam Links Itself to China

Vietnam plans to take a multibillion-dollar Chinese loan to fund a major railway connecting the two countries, Vietnamese Transport Minister Nguyen Hong Minh said Thursday.

Why it matters: Many former and present United States partners are cozying up to China. The U.S. has invested a great deal into Vietnam in recent years to strengthen economic ties and foster cooperation between the two nations. But this new development could indicate a shifting Vietnamese loyalty.

• This plan more closely links Vietnam with China, economically and technologically.

Details: Vietnam needs more advanced railway systems and technologies, and it is looking to China for help.

This project, projected to cost $8.3 billion, will make a 243-mile railway from Haiphong to Lao Cai on the Vietnam-China border, passing through Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital. The railway is designed to advance passenger and cargo transport. Construction is expected to begin this year and be finished in 2030.

Vietnam’s congress is expected to vote on the project this week.

Prophetic perspective: The Bible prophesies that China will play a leading role in creating an anti-American trade alliance. This means current American allies will increasingly turn to Beijing.

Learn more: Read our Trends article “Why the Trumpet Watches the Development of a Massive Anti-American Trade Bloc.”