Macron's Southeast Asia Visit: Emphasis on Protecting South China Sea Navigation Rights

French President Emmanuel Macron has embarked on a six-day visit to Southeast Asia, with his first stop in Hanoi, making him the first French head of state to visit Vietnam in nearly a decade. During the visit, Vietnam and France signed an agreement on the purchase of 20 Airbus passenger planes on the 26th, and Macron committed to defending freedom of navigation in the South China Sea while aiming to establish a French version of the Indo-Pacific strategy between the U.S. and China.
On the evening of the 25th, Macron and his wife Brigitte arrived in Hanoi. However, before disembarking from the plane, Macron was unexpectedly playfully slapped on the face by his wife, which drew attention from the media. He awkwardly smiled and waved before gathering himself and stepping off the tarmac alongside Brigitte. Analysts noted this might have been a playful interaction or a minor quarrel between the couple.
Vietnamese President Le Thanh Long extended a ceremonial military welcome to Macron, marking a significant development in Franco-Vietnamese relations. Macron stated, "Today's international order is turbulent, and strong rhetoric is filled with threats. We must uphold the foundations of the rule of law for economic prosperity to flourish."
Additionally, the French government announced that Macron would engage in a series of defense and space cooperation initiatives with Vietnam, reaffirming the commitment to protecting navigation rights in the South China Sea. Macron added, "During discussions of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, we also addressed the South China Sea situation, and both nations agreed on the need to uphold rights granted by international maritime law."
In terms of commercial cooperation, Macron witnessed a significant order by VietJet Air, with the airline's CEO signing a deal with Airbus for the purchase of 20 wide-body Airbus A330-900 aircraft valued at approximately $8 billion. This deal serves to solidify France's commercial interests in Vietnam.