Mr Biden traveled to Hanoi to sign the agreement that will bring the former foes closer together than ever.

Vietnam’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership represents a major relationship upgrade for the US. In order to counter China’s influence in Asia, Washington has relentlessly pushed to strengthen its ties with Vietnam over the last two years.

This is also no small feat. Vietnam, one of China’s oldest and staunchest friends, has extended its highest level of diplomatic ties to Washington.

According to Mr Biden, American actions in Hanoi are not about isolating or containing China, but about maintaining international stability.

“I think we think too much in terms of Cold War terms. It’s not about the Cold War. It’s about economic growth and stability,” Biden told reporters in Hanoi on Sunday.

According to him, “I want to see China succeed economically, but I want them to succeed according to the rules.”

Beijing had already railed against signs of improved ties, calling them a manifestation of the “cold-war mentality” of the United States.

Le Hong Hiep, from Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, says Hanoi has thought this through, adding that the agreement with the US is more symbolic than substantive.