Vietnam & the War in Ukraine
Examining local media coverage
Hello! I want to begin by apologizing for the inconsistent schedule of articles for paying subscribers. The past month has been very busy in terms of work, which I can’t complain about, but this means I haven’t been able to put time into the newsletter. Hopefully the schedule will clear up a bit in the coming weeks. I appreciate your patience!
Today, I’m discussing the war in Ukraine, both how it is being covered by domestic media, and its increasingly complex impact on Vietnam’s economy. Simply reply to this email if you have any thoughts.
How to avoid the word ‘invasion’
Following coverage of Russia’s invasion in domestic Vietnamese media has been fascinating, with the language that is used (or not used) indicating the fine line the government is attempting to walk.
The major Vietnamese-language sites have daily updates on the war’s latest, with this article from Zing, for example, going into detail on how Russia has changed its strategy to focus on long-range weapons as ground forces falter.
The piece does talk about the humanitarian disaster in Mariupol, but generally avoids mentioning civilian deaths, and I’ve seen no mention of whether war crimes have been committed by the Russian military.
In reading this coverage, you’ll also be treated to a wide range of words and phrases that seem to specifically avoid the use of ‘invasion’ or placing blame on Russia.