Vietnam Names its New Central Committee, Politburo

The Communist Party of Vietnam on Jan. 18 elected its new central committee and nine of the members of its political bureau, including the ruling triumvirate of general secretary, prime minister and president. The reshuffle went about as expected, though there are questions about whether new top leader Nguyen Phu Trong will provide forceful enough leadership to fill the shoes of his predecessor. While the new leadership will not change Vietnam's geopolitical situation, there may be some significant adjustments in policies, particularly in regard to Hanoi's relations with China and the West.