India and Vietnam are partnering with the US to counter China − even as Biden claims that's not his goal

This fall , a bipartisan group of U.S. senators will lead a bipartisan trip to China .

Efforts to ameliorate U.-China diplomatic relations come amid growing tensions between the two economic giants.

They also run parallel to efforts to strengthen ties with Indo-Pacific countries to limit Beijing ’s influence.

The U.S. agreed to provide nearly $9 million to help Vietnam patrol the waters around its borders and beef up port facility security.

China is the target of this initiative; China and Vietnam continue to be at loggerheads over disputed claims over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea .