Vietnamese Foreign Minister and U.S Secretary of State John Kerry.
(Associated Press) | Updated September 25, 2014
NEW YORK — Vietnam said Wednesday it wants to be able to buy weapons from the United States and that regional powerhouse China should not be alarmed.
As relations between the U.S. and Vietnam warm, the U.S. is moving closer to lifting a ban on lethal arms exports applied after the communist victory in the Vietnam War.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said it's been nearly 20 years since Washington and Hanoi normalized relations, and so it's "abnormal" to retain the ban.
"If we do not buy weapons from the United States, we (would) still buy from other countries," Minh said at the Asia Society. "Why should China bother about that?"
Despite fraternal ties between the ruling parties of Vietnam and China, tensions spiked this year after China deployed a deep-sea oil rig near the disputed Paracel islands. Vessels from the two sides repeatedly rammed each other near the rig. The standoff triggered deadly anti-China protests and riots in Vietnam.
Minh, who is also Vietnam's foreign minister and is attending the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, said there was an unprecedented risk of military conflict in Asian seas. But he was careful to avoid direct criticism of China.
Washington has yet to announce a lifting of the weapons ban but is starting to build military ties with Vietnam, its former foe.
In August, U.S. Gen. Martin Dempsey became the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to visit Vietnam since 1971. He told reporters at the time that if the U.S. does lift the ban, it should start by boosting Vietnam's navy.
That will anger China, which eyes increased U.S. military engagement in Asia as an attempt to contain its rise.
Russia is currently Vietnam's main source of armaments. Vietnam has earmarked hundreds of millions of dollars to build more vessels to improve its maritime capability.
Human rights groups remain deeply critical of Vietnam, a one-party state that squelches dissent and continues to imprison government critics.
Dempsey has said there's a growing sense from the U.S. administration and lawmakers that Vietnam has made progress on human rights issues.
8 comments:
Dont sale any weapons to this alligator people they are your enemies do u remember they kills alot of your peoples those Dieviet people are very crooks dont trust them and dont make friends with them
Over 50,000 dead Americans must be a lesson for the US to know this hypocrite Vietnam's characters.
Stay away from this thief Vietnam is a much better option for the US.
China might be the US future enemy. By sticking with China, Khmer play a dangerous game. If u understand the world politic than it's all about what have you done for me lately. There's no permanent enemy. Just best interest for your country. US/Vietnam are limited allies in the interest of containing China.
"Just best interest for your country".
1 October 2014 11:45 pm,
The best interest for Cambodia is to remove all CHEAP generations of Vietshit from Cambodia and their war merchant Vietcong including Vietcong troll.
Friend @11:45 pm
Remember our PERMANENT and traditional enemy are Yuon.
Our best bet in the long haul is to consider as our friends the enemy of our enemy.
Our survival first !
I think the poster @11:45pm was replied to the first two posters about suggesting the US should not be friend with Vietnam because of the past history which is not totally right as Vietnam war was not just about Vietnam but a war of containment including China & Soviet. It's true about what have you done for me lately as US had been friends in the past with even more complicated partner to protect US interest.
Anyway, the deal becomes official today as the US lifts the ban of selling weapons to Vietnam.
Haha.. let's just say if a war break out with the Thai.. who would be our friend? Yieknam.
5:24 pm
Don't worry about the wars between Cambodia and Thailand.
You should worry about how to DEVIETNAMIZE CAMBODIA !
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