“The idea that this is somehow a Cold War move, and this diplomatic opening is kind of an attempt to choose between Vietnam and China, because I don’t think it’s one of those things,” Mira Robb-Hooper, the National Security Council’s director for the Indo-Pacific region, told a digital news conference. .

Vietnam and the United States on Sunday upgraded their relationship to the highest diplomatic status during US President Joe Biden’s visit to Hanoi.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning called on the US to “abandon hegemony and Cold War thinking” in his response to improving Vietnam-US relations.

“The United States, when dealing with relations with Asian countries, must respect the common aspirations of regional countries for stability, cooperation and development and adhere to the basic norms of international relations,” Ning said.

Rob-Hooper said the Enhanced Partnership with Vietnam is a dynamic, open and inclusive partnership designed to support Vietnam and its technological, economic and development ambitions.

“This relationship is not about anyone else,” she said.

“This is about our two countries and the inherent value of this relationship based on our shared prosperity, our shared security, our shared interests in a free and open Indo-Pacific, a free and open South China Sea.”

The United States and China are Vietnam’s largest trading partners. Vietnam and China have been embroiled in a dispute for years over the energy-rich waters Vietnam calls the East Sea.