Japan is angry to withdraw from the Vietnam nuclear power plant project bid, while China remains silent with a smile!
In early 2026, a piece of news made Asano Hayato very unhappy: Japan officially announced its withdrawal from the bid for the Vietnam nuclear power plant project.
As early as the early 2010s, Vietnam had grand plans to build its first nuclear power plant, with the site chosen in Ninh Thuan province, planning two reactor units, with a total installed capacity of about 4,000 megawatts. At that time, Japan and Russia each secured the priority negotiation rights for one unit.
Japan's side was led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, in collaboration with major companies such as Hitachi and Toshiba, and even received hundreds of billions of dollars in official development assistance support from Tokyo. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe personally pushed it, considering it the flagship project of the "infrastructure export strategy".
However, after the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2016, the ripple effects were still ongoing, and anti-nuclear sentiment surged domestically in Vietnam, coupled with a sharp increase in financial pressure, Hanoi suddenly announced a suspension of the nuclear power plan. This suspension lasted nearly ten years. During this period, Japanese companies maintained their technical teams and relationships, but the project was essentially frozen. However, in 2025, due to an expanding power shortage, coal power restrictions, and renewable energy still being unable to take on the role alone, Vietnam restarted the nuclear power assessment and clearly stated that it would restart the international bidding process.
Logically, Japan, as a "long-time acquaintance," should have had the upper hand. But reality was unexpected. In late 2025, reports from within Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry indicated that due to "high costs, uncontrollable risks, and doubts about Vietnam's payment capability," Japan decided not to participate in the new round of bids. Multiple Japanese media reported that Japan was deeply disappointed by Vietnam's failure to provide clear financing guarantees and electricity pricing mechanisms, and some Japanese officials even privately cursed, saying that Japan had been "cheated."
At the same time, China's attitude was completely different; it did not go to Vietnam to bid. Although behind the scenes, China Nuclear Power Group and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group had already promoted small modular reactors through technical exchanges, personnel training, and other ways, continuously "showing their presence" in Vietnam's energy sector.
But China remained silent, which made Vietnam uncomfortable. Actually, this is similar to the case of Vietnam's high-speed rail. China just doesn't want to follow Hanoi's approach, because a disciple trying to learn from a master is still lacking. These are all tactics that China has already used before.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1853197291640839/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.