U.S. Navy warship docks in Vietnam
The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
-
Millions in global aid for Iraq remain unspent
( 1 )
-
U.N. Security Council blames Syrian gov't for Houla killings
( 5 )
-
U.S. drones kill 5 militants in Pakistan
( 9 )
-
NATO has fight on its hands in Afghanistan - Panetta
( 6 )
-
Iran may rethink 20% enrichment: spokesman
( 2 )
-
- 秘書及び業務サポート
- 加治金属工業株式会社, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥4.0M / Year
-
- English Instructor (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
- Berlitz Japan, Inc. (ベルリッツ・ジャパン株式会社), Kansai
- Salary: ¥125,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month
-
- ALT - Mie Prefecture - Yokkaichi City - June start
- NPO法人グローバル教育推進機構（GLAD), Mie
- Salary: ¥230,000 / Month For a full working month. Some months differ.
Order by Time Order by Popularity
54 Comments
Login to comment
0
OssanAmerica
Good for Vietnam. China has 17 ongoing territorial disputes with it's neighbora, the most of any country in Asia.
0
RomeoRamenII
following a bloody war that remains an open wound for many veterans
True dat. People I know tell me that they are "going to Vietnam on vacation." Yes, times have changed but as a combat veteran of that conflict nearly 40 years ago, for me personally the words "Vietnam" and "vacation" don't belong in the same sentence and never will.
RR
0
Beelzebub
Everything I hear these days is about how Vietnam has become a horribly corrupt place, and I suspect their motive in forming of business or military alliances with anyone is to bleed them dry with demands for baksheesh.
0
yabits
There's nothing...NOTHING...that couldn't have been achieved along these lines if the United States had stood up for its own principles and allowed the 1956 election to take place to resolve the temporary division after the French lost their fight to the nationalist Vietnamese.
Three million innocent Indo-Chinese slaughtered, not counting the destabilization of Cambodia and the ensuing vacuum which Pol Pot and his merry band rushed in to fill. It was the Vietnamese who eventually ousted the murderous psychopath.
0
SuperLib
Don't worry, yabits. Things are better today.
0
MistWizard
China needs to stop telling the U.S. to get out of its backyard. Instead it needs to start mucking about in America's backyard. Can't they see the precedent of behavior has been set? America is not going to stop imposing its will on the other side of globe just because it would be right.
0
SuperLib
Mist perhaps you could ask China for a map where they could tell the US and the world where they are not allowed to sail in international waters.
0
jruaustralia
Must be part of the Vietnamese plan to 'internationalize' the so-called Parcel dispute..... Oh well!?
0
elbudamexicano
Ah, China and Vietnam, 2 very, very OLD ENEMIES! The French, the Japanese, the Yanks are just new comers to Vietnam, the Chinese for thousands of years have tried and tried to get their hands on lovely Vietnam, so now the Hanoi government sees an opportunity to keep big, bad Beijing away, at a distance, say like your neighbor walking his big, mean, menacing nuclear armed to the teach American pit bull in the Chinese backyard, oops, I mean in the free peoples Republic of Vietnam.
0
USNinJapan2
MistWizard
China would if it could. It's called global power projection capability and China doesn't have it.
0
MistWizard
Not quite the point. The point is that if Chinese warships were regularly in America's EEZ, there would be outrage. The Golden Rule really is a pretty good one.
0
MistWizard
This is like saying that every country is as aggressive as the U.S. Poppycock. The Chinese could easily send spy ships into America's EEZ. Why they don't could be many reasons, including being scared to provoke a war. That is not a bad thing. It might also be true that their spy ships might be second rate, but you and I both know the U.S. would flip the heck right out if China did that.
0
american_bengoshi
Just like I predicted many times on this web site, the US & Vietnam will become very close partners and allies in the future. The U.S. is Vietnam’s top export market and Americans were the country’s No. 1 foreign investor last year. I have been to the country many times and have never received such a warm, friendly reception as an American tourist. A US passport is solid gold there (especially with the ladies so be very careful guys).
0
SuperLib
The US should have just copied the standard Chinese response of "This an internal matter and we do not appreciate foreign meddling."
0
SuperLib
What on earth could you possibly get out of that kind of thinking? It's just insane to hear an American say that.
The ships are usually there to conduct joint drills with the Japanese and Koreans. If China wants to conduct joint drills with Mexico or Canada or the Bahamas then I suppose you could make a case. This time the ship is in Vietnam and the Vietnamese don't seem to mind. After reading the article they seem to enjoy it given China's "my water" stance that they're dictating to surrounding nations.
The fact is that the US has a lot of allies in the area that we routinely work with and because of that there will sometimes be ships in international waters. If you and the Chinese don't like that then you can cry a river for all I care.
0
MistWizard
No, I could not make a case. That is the point. Joint military exercises on your borders involving a country half a world away is unnecessary stirring of anxieties. So is spying while using someone's EEZ.
I could legally suggest to you that killing a certain person would end all your troubles. I could even tell you how to do it so you could get away with it. Its legal, but that does not make it right.
There is nothing insane about a desire to keep tensions down. Insane is thinking that more tensions will always get the other side to cower and be in awe of our might. We can excuse our ties to S.K. because of N.K. Even China has problems with N.K. But military ties with Vietnam have what behind them exactly? Who will China think is the target? Would they be wrong to think so?
Do you think I would favor American world domination because I am American? I just want everyone to stay in their own freaking borders and leave everyone else alone. China has a MUCH better history of doing that, even going back to ancient times. America has been one land grab after another since it was born, and we got military all over the damned world invading countries on what even the war supporters are referring to as "mistakes". What mistake is going to get us a war with China? I don't want it, and so I want to remove the odds of making such a mistake. We have already had enough near misses with our spying up their rectums.
0
sailwind
Well if you consider 1979 ancient times you would be correct.
The Sino–Vietnamese War (Vietnamese: Chiến tranh biên giới Việt-Trung), also known as the Third Indochina War, known in the PRC as 对越自卫反击战 (duì yuè zìwèi fǎnjī zhàn) (Counterattack against Vietnam in Self-Defense) and in Vietnam as Chiến tranh chống bành trướng Trung Hoa (War against Chinese expansionism), was a brief but bloody border war fought in 1979 between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The PRC launched the offensive in response to Vietnam's invasion and occupation of Cambodia, which ended the reign of the PRC-backed Khmer Rouge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Vietnamese_War
But it's only America that is bad, bad, bad.
0
alphawolf
mistwizard, I agree. There is no good in provocation. We lost a C-130 and a Chinese fighter pilot died because of our hedmoning near China about 8 yrs ago or so.
0
sailwind
Oh and Mr. Wizard good to see the Chinese backed those sweeties the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot also.
0
yabits
A real American would not favor an America that throws its weight around and stirs up trouble far from our shores. They would be opposed to these types of military alliances and exercises.
It's amazing how the first president's words ring out loud and clear on this: "... they must derive from union an exemption from those broils and wars between themselves, which so frequently afflict neighboring countries not tied together by the same governments, which their own rival ships alone would be sufficient to produce, but which opposite foreign alliances, attachments, and intrigues would stimulate and embitter. Hence, likewise, they will avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty." (Farewell address)
0
sailwind
I'm sure Taiwan would also be impressed with your view also.
0
SuperLib
Well, ya got me there. If only there was some rebuttal I could make...hmmm....only some history of war between China and Vietnam....or....perhaps a land grab by China from a neighbor....hmmmm...I'm drawing a blank here. Gosh. Maybe the threat of invasion of a sovereign nation if they declare independence? Nope, no answers there, either. Looks like you got me.
Gee, how did I know you would end up here? :)
hehe of course not. Only real Americans accept everything the government says without question.
0
MistWizard
Did I say China had a perfect history? No, I did not. I said it was BETTER.
And it is ABSURD that you tell you about Vietnam's history with China! Ho, ho, ho! Was that a joke? Do you know who else killed a slew of Vietnamese in modern times?
Because its true? I am no supporter of the Chinese idea that what was once their is always theirs. But I am even less a supporter of the American idea that what was never theirs is theirs by Manifest Destiny. At least MD is done though. Now we got this crazy cowboy mentality of shoot'em first and ask questions later and still the Chinese are doing better! (Please read "better" to mean "better" k?)
Moderator: All readers back on topic please. Posts that do not focus on the visit of the U.S. Navy ship to Vietnam will be removed.
0
tclh
China expands too much ,too fast, too greedily...is the reason for the current situation.China needs outside pressure to stay sane. I am glad to see America has finally decided to behave like real leader of the world.
0
Good_Jorb
Considering that China currently illegally occupies part of Vietnam, it makes sense for Vietnam to buddy up with the US.
0
yabits
Wow. A world power saying one thing and doing the opposite.
Who'd a thunk it!?
0
yabits
What support can you provide for the claim that China currently occupies part of Vietnam?
If so, why did the Chinese and Vietnamese meet just last month to strengthen ties? (With Vietnam making no mention whatsoever of any illegal Chinese occupation -- just the disputed islands that several nations claim as theirs.)
0
SuperLib
And whose ships are docking in Vietnam now? Hmmm? :)
Look, US relations with Vietnam are going to improve and that's a good thing. I'm sorry if that makes you angry. Just because you want China to be able to bully around Vietnam it won't change reality. Maybe one day you'll get your wish with Chinese warships off of California and Chinese permission required to sail in international waters, but until then you'll just have to eat crow.
No bullies for Vietnam!
0
mikehuntez
Funny how China doesn't like neighboring countries to make friends with the USA. In a way I can understand China's disapproval but I also have to say to them, eat cake.
0
Good_Jorb
On January 20, 1974, China invaded and annexed Hoang Sa. At that time China and Vietnam were not at war, so the island was illegally annexed and is still occupied by China.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/south-china-sea.htm
0
MistWizard
Hoang Sa? Nice. They were taken from the Chinese by the French in 1938. The Vietnamese did not even notice the Chinese were there at first in 74, then finally realized they were, attacked, and lost the fight. Held for 38 years and not important enough to notice Chinese building up there for a while. Somehow, I don't think its the first thing on the Vietnamese mind.
0
Good_Jorb
Considering they weren't at war, why would you suspect that your neigherbors were building up a invasion force to steal your land?
Given the fact that in that area there are some sizable oil/hydrocarbon reverses that are starting to developed, I'm pretty that Vietnam doesn't want to lose those potential revenues. Besides it also set a precident that would China will use force to steal land. Vietnam has had military altercations with China in 92 and 94 as well over oil exploration.
0
Good_Jorb
Right or wrong, Vietnam was once a vassal state of China and by your logic then China once ruling over Vietnam, could invade on the premise of prior ownership(shades of Tibet). So all the better for Vietnam and the US to work together.
As for the warships off California comparison, is Vietnam part of China? If not, then it's an American ship stopping in Vietnam's sovereign territory, not them going into China's territory.
0
Klein2
"I have been to the country many times and have never received such a warm, friendly reception as an American tourist. A US passport is solid gold there"
Funny you should bring that up. I don't think it could have been too many times because travel to Vietnam requires a visa for Americans, and it takes up a whole page of the passport. Yeah. Nice and friendly they are, but Americans can travel to many countries with no visa whatsoever. They are more friendly to Japanese people and require no visa of them.
I am not a fan of their government, which still locks people up for political opposition, but the people are nice and it is a safe country.
0
MistWizard
Nope. By my logic South Vietnam was once a vassal of America and in more recent memory too.
But to your point directly, a people have the right of self determination, so no, occupying inhabited land is wrong if the inhabitants don't want it.
I was talking about the past ways the U.S. has been annoying China. This alliance will provide more opportunity to do so, and thus, annoy China more. If we use the opportunity, THAT much more. This is a WARSHIP visiting Vietnam, not a trade ship. The warship is a long way from home. And dude, the Soviet Union once had a nice friendship with Cuba. The U.S. was VERY unhappy about that. We know well what sort of tensions we are sowing, or at least we should.
What is the point of this alliance? To throw a monkey wrench in the works of the territory disputes? It seems to me that China could have taken lots of islands military by now but didn't. Is this their reward for restraint?
0
WilliB
Geopolitics as usual. For the Vietnamese, the US are a useful counterweight the the growing Chinese power on their border.
Alas, time is working against them. While China is rapidly building its military, the US has hollowed out its economy and is rapidly reaching the point where it can not afford to finance its overseas adventures.
0
yabits
I agree. China certainly was all for using the U.S. as a counterweight against the USSR back when their relations were on the fritz.
Ironically, it is China that is financing a lot of the US economy these days -- perhaps it's only a matter of time before we hear a new type of giant sucking sound.
0
Sarge
"The USS John S. McCain"
They ought to rename that ship the USS Barack Obama.
0
Sarge
Sorry, the USS Barack H. Obama.
0
SuperLib
Let's hope this is the start to a beautiful friendship!
0
SuperLib
Sounds fascinating. Can you go into more detail about this?
0
Branded
"Relations have thrived since the former foes shook hands in 1995. The U.S. is Vietnam’s top export market and Americans were the country’s No. 1 foreign investor last year. Two-way trade reached $15.4 billion in 2009."
Amazing how Americans just let "by gones be by gones" and move on without any animosity whatsoever. I can think of dozens of nations out there that are still paralyzed by their past- refusing to mend fences for the good of humanity. Bravo USA, once again leading through example !
0
WilliB
Branded:
I don´t know what you are referring to. The US was never at war with Vietnam. Communist Vietnam was at war with non-communist Vietnam... and while the Communists stuck to their guns, the West eventually slinked away. In the event, the Southern government still lasted for over a year, before the T39s rolled into Saigon.
All forgotten, already? Or re-written?
0
Branded
No willibe- I don't know what yer talkin' about.
"The US was never at war with Vietnam. Communist Vietnam was at war with non-communist Vietnam."
Ahhh- someone who only observes the "literal" content without being able to catch the general meaning... sorry there willy- I'll be sure to take the time to type in "communist" next time- and speaking of which... didn't they win ? And wasn't Saigon changed to Ho Chi Minh ??? So in effect aren't the Americans now dealing directly with their former enemies ??? And isn't that "the" point of my post ???
As for this:
"the West eventually slinked away"
Don't you mean "The French" ??? Much like they did in most parts of Asia- they broke it, then cut and run ! And I don't see them engaged in any 15.4 billion dollars in trade with Vietnam- let alone being the #1 foreign investor last year. Again- mega props to the US- it's all water under the bridge.
Back to top