Vietnam's To Lam warns Asia over risks of superpower conflict
Vietnam's leader To Lam has warned regional military leaders that Asia is facing growing risks from superpower rivalry. In remarks delivered to military leaders from the region, he said distrust and a lack of respect for established rules had created a culture of "the big fish swallowing the small fish." The comments were made at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a major security forum in Asia. The warning was reported on 29 May 2026 and was framed around the strategic pressures created by competition between major powers.
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To Lam did not, in the supplied material, name specific countries in his remarks. He instead focused on the broader effect of weakening trust and rules-based conduct in the region. The speech matters because it reflects concern among Southeast Asian leaders about how rivalry among larger states can affect smaller countries.
Vietnam has often sought to balance relations with major powers while protecting its own security interests. A message delivered to military leaders carries added weight because it speaks directly to defence planners and regional security officials. The Shangri-La Dialogue is one of Asia's most closely watched defence and security meetings, bringing together military and government figures from across the region.
Statements made there are often used to signal national positions on maritime security, regional stability and the conduct of major powers. In that setting, To Lam's remarks underline the continuing sensitivity around how rules are applied in Asia's strategic environment. The comments also fit into a wider pattern of concern among regional states about the consequences of great-power competition.
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Smaller countries in Asia often depend on predictable rules and diplomatic restraint to avoid being forced into difficult choices. The phrase used by To Lam suggests anxiety that stronger states may increasingly dominate weaker ones if those norms erode. What remains unclear from the supplied material is whether To Lam linked his warning to any specific dispute or policy proposal.
It is also not clear what response, if any, his remarks drew from other participants at the forum. The main point to watch is whether the speech leads to further public statements from Vietnam or other regional governments about security rules and major-power rivalry.
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