Khang Vu, a visiting scholar at Boston College and expert on Vietnamese politics, discusses contrasting strategies of Vietnam and the Philippines in dealing with China’s territorial claims. While the Philippines seeks U.S. support, Vietnam opts for a solo approach, even expanding its presence in the South China Sea through island reclamation. Vu highlights how these tactics reflect broader lessons on managing great power rivalries, emphasizing the complexities smaller nations face in navigating geopolitical dynamics.