Vietnam maintains rising position in Asian Power Index 2020

The Lowy Institute partly attributed the country’s improved ranking over the past year to an increase in Vietnamese diplomatic influence index, judging that it has risen three notches to ninth place in comparison to last year.

According to the Lowy Institute, the nation has been an effective participant in regional trade forums and initiatives, serving to promote negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). In addition, as the ASEAN Chair the country has helped to ramp up efforts and accelerate the implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) alongside 10 other member states.

Furthermore, the past year has also seen the nation significantly improve its economic capacity, therefore moving up three spots in terms its national defence network index.

Last year’s rankings also saw the Vietnam climb by one place in the Asian Power Index due to its major achievements in economic and human resource development.

Herve Lemahieu, director of the Asian Power and Diplomacy Program at the Lowy Institute, emphasised that competent control of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been a factor, but is not the only condition, in improving the country's regional position in Asia.

The five highest ranked countries in the Asia Power Index 2020 remains unchanged from last year, in which the United States is considered the largest power in the region, followed by China, Japan, India, and Russia.

The Asia Power Index an analytical tool by the Lowy Institute that tracks changes in terms of the influence of countries and territories throughout the region. The index is based on assessments of many areas, including military capability and defence networks, resources and economic relations, diplomatic-cultural influence, capacity to deal with risks, and resources for the future.