Vietnam is opposed to the canal because it would reduce the water flow in the Mekong River, which is crucial for Vietnam's agriculture in the Mekong Delta. Additionally, Vietnam has a long-standing desire to control Cambodia and sees the canal as a threat to its influence in the region.
Vietnam's 'big brother complex' in Indochina has been shaped by several historical events: 1) The expansion of Vietnam's territory southward from the 15th century, incorporating Cambodian lands. 2) The French colonial period, where Vietnam was used to administer Cambodia and Laos. 3) The Vietnam War and subsequent conflicts in the 1970s and 1980s, where Vietnam sought to control Cambodia to counter Chinese influence.
During the French colonial period, Vietnam was used to administer Cambodia and Laos, with many Vietnamese officials placed in key positions in these countries. This reinforced Vietnam's sense of dominance and control over its neighbors, as it was seen as the leading power within the French Indochina federation.
The Sino-Soviet split played a significant role in the conflicts in Indochina during the 1970s. China supported Cambodia to counter Vietnam, which was aligned with the Soviet Union. This led to a series of conflicts, including the Cambodian-Vietnamese War and the Sino-Vietnamese War, as each side sought to limit the other's influence in the region.
Contemporary economic ties between Vietnam and its neighbors include Vietnam purchasing electricity from Laos, which has abundant hydropower resources, and Vietnamese companies expanding into Cambodia. Additionally, many Laotian military officers receive training in Vietnam, further strengthening the ties between these countries.
两个月前有越南朋友来问我知不知道柬埔寨运河这事儿,还问我是哪家中企修的(我并不知道),同时表现出极大愤慨,理由是会让湄公河下游灌溉水量少1/3。湄公河水量是个问题,但更让越南不快的,大概是对柬埔寨“完全失控”的关切。毕竟,越南把柬埔寨老挝视作小弟的“老大哥情结”古已有之,从黎圣宗1470年南征占婆国的归仁(今越南中部城市)起,已有超500年。如果把越南的“中南半岛老大哥情结”分为四个阶段,那分别是:1.黎朝到阮朝(1428-1887):越南皇帝效法北方大国,倒向儒家意识形态(四书五经、科举等),“东南亚小中华”冉冉升起。虽然强化了集权,但也带来了中南半岛版的“华夷之辨”——只不过越南成了“华”,而柬埔寨、老挝成了“夷”。“文明”的越南南下讨伐征服“野蛮”的柬埔寨,天经地义。越南因此逐渐形成目前的版图(图1),也萌发了对中南半岛的“老大哥情结”,柬越历史纠葛的根源也在此埋下。2.法属印度支那(1887-1954):法国人版的“以夷制夷”——在法属印度支那(现越老柬三国,图2)内部,以支持越南人殖民老挝柬埔寨的方式殖民越南。1913年,金边政府工作的16个印度支那官员里,有14个越南人。老挝情况类似,1930年代末,老挝境内的越南总人口只占2%,但公务员系统里54%都是越南人。法属时期,“殖民中的殖民”,进一步强化了越南的中南半岛老大哥意识。3.柬越战争(1979)1979年,中苏关系恶化。中国与美国靠近制衡苏联,苏联拉拢越南(在芽庄金兰湾停靠军舰)围堵中国,中国为了不让越南控制整个中南半岛继而威胁中国南疆,支持柬埔寨(当时红高棉已上台)制衡越南。而红高棉认为越战后越南想重新吃掉柬埔寨(就像在阮朝和法属印度支那时期一样),所以开始攻击越南,越南认为中国在用柬埔寨围堵越南,于是反过来侵入柬埔寨,继而中国下场…… 中南半岛在1980年代乱成一锅粥。这是越南中南半岛情结在外力刺激下的集中爆发,但也是一个更大问题的预演:谁才是中南半岛真正的老大哥?4.当代越南除了向中国买电,也向老挝买水电,老挝的军事将领也有很多到越南接受培训。越南企业出海(如移动世界或Pizza4P),柬埔寨也是传统目的地。显然中南半岛未来真正的老大哥不可能是越南,谁能提供公共品(基建、增长、安全保障等),谁才是老大哥。而公共品是有成本的,巨大的成本。