Vietnam President To Lam said regional leaders should avoid superpower conflict during a keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 28 [1].
The address signals Vietnam's growing concern over geopolitical instability in the Asia-Pacific region, where tensions between global powers threaten the security of vital trade routes.
To Lam, who also serves as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, spoke to an audience that included delegates and senior defense officials from 44 countries [2]. The event marked the 23rd edition of the summit [3].
During his speech, To Lam said global waterways hold strategic importance. He cited the war in the Middle East and the specific instability surrounding the Strait of Hormuz as cautionary examples for rivals in the Asia-Pacific [4].
He warned against a global political environment defined by "the big fish swallowing the small fish" [5]. This phrasing underscored his concerns regarding the risk of smaller nations being marginalized or crushed by the interests of competing superpowers.
The president said the stability of maritime corridors is essential for regional prosperity. He argued that the lessons from Middle Eastern conflicts should serve as a warning to those managing tensions in Asian waters [4].
To Lam's participation in the keynote address reflects Vietnam's attempt to balance its relationships with major powers while advocating for a rules-based international order that protects national sovereignty [5].
“"the big fish swallowing the small fish."”
By using the Strait of Hormuz as a proxy for potential conflict in the Asia-Pacific, Vietnam is articulating a 'neutrality through strength' strategy. To Lam's rhetoric suggests that Vietnam views the risk of superpower escalation not as a distant possibility, but as a systemic threat to the maritime trade routes that sustain its export-driven economy.
